What are the UK teacher resignation dates?

For teachers on the STPCD (School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document) in England and Wales, the deadlines are 31 October to leave at the end of the autumn term (31 December), 28 February to leave at the end of the spring term (30 April), and 31 May to leave at the end of the summer term (31 August). Miss the deadline and you must wait for the next window.

Do resignation dates apply to academy teachers?

Academies are not bound by STPCD but most adopt it or a close variant. Read your contract; if it references STPCD or the Burgundy Book, the same three dates apply. Some multi-academy trusts use their own terms with slightly different deadlines. When in doubt, ask HR before drafting a resignation.

What if I miss the resignation deadline?

You have three options: wait for the next window, negotiate a shorter release with the head teacher and governors (occasionally granted for exceptional circumstances or where cover is in place), or resign in breach with the standard consequences (loss of pay, possible reference issues, possible TRA referral in extreme cases). Waiting is usually the safer option.

Do independent schools use the same dates?

No, independent schools set their own contractual notice. It is often longer than the STPCD notice (typically a full term or six months). Some use a hybrid approach with the STPCD dates for consistency. The contract is definitive; STPCD does not apply by default.

Does the deadline apply to heads and senior leaders?

Yes, but with a longer notice window. Head teachers and deputies typically have a two-term or three-term notice under STPCD, meaning the effective resignation deadline is earlier. For example, a head resigning for a summer-term end usually needs to notify by 31 December rather than 31 May.

Teacher Resignation Dates (UK 2026): 31 Oct, 28 Feb, 31 May Deadlines

The three deadlines

Deadline	Effective leaving date	Term ending
31 October	31 December	End of autumn term
28 February	30 April	End of spring term
31 May	31 August	End of summer term

The dates are set by the Burgundy Book and reflected in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), which is incorporated into every state-school teacher’s contract in England and Wales. Scotland (SNCT handbook) and Northern Ireland use different but similarly-timed deadlines.

Which resignation deadline applies to you

Match the deadline to your intended leaving date. If you want to start a new role in September, you need to have resigned by 31 May. If you want to leave at Easter, the deadline is 28 February. Consider the practicalities: interview and offer processes for teacher moves typically run in the term before the deadline, so plan backwards.

How to give notice

Notice is given in writing to the governing body (or to the head teacher in academies). The letter should:

Be dated on or before the applicable deadline (31 October, 28 February or 31 May).
State the resignation clearly and name the role.
Confirm the effective leaving date (31 December, 30 April or 31 August).
Offer to support the handover including any exam-preparation continuity.

Email is acceptable for most schools; hand-delivered is more traditional and leaves no doubt about the date received. The resignation letter generator builds a suitable letter from a few fields. The teacher notice period calculator confirms the effective leaving date.

Academies and multi-academy trusts

Academies are not legally required to follow STPCD but most do. Read your contract to confirm which regime applies. Where the contract references STPCD or the Burgundy Book, the same three deadlines govern.

Some multi-academy trusts have introduced their own contractual notice provisions that differ from STPCD, often to allow more flexibility. Where they do, the contract wording is definitive.

Independent schools

Independent schools set their own contractual terms. Notice is often longer than STPCD, commonly one full term or six months. Some independent schools use a hybrid approach with the same three deadlines but longer effective notice.

If you are an independent school teacher, your contract is the source of truth. STPCD does not apply by default.

Head teachers and senior leaders

Senior leadership roles have longer notice under STPCD. Head teachers typically must give either two terms (four months) or three terms (a full academic term ahead plus one more) depending on when they resign. Deputy heads follow similar longer-notice rules.

Practical effect: a head wanting to leave at the end of the summer term usually needs to notify by 31 December. For senior clarity see the STPCD 2024 and consult your union.

Missing the deadline

If you miss a deadline, three options:

Wait for the next window. Usually the safer option. Plan the new role start date accordingly.
Negotiate a release. Approach the head teacher and governors with a specific request. Where cover is in place and the reason is compelling, release is sometimes granted, particularly for shorter overshoot (a few days or weeks).
Resign in breach. Notify by the earliest date you can. The consequences: pay stops at the notified end date, reference position weakens, professional-conduct referral in extreme cases. Discuss with your union before taking this route.

ECTs and probationary teachers

Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in their two-year induction have the same resignation deadlines as substantive teachers under STPCD. The ECT status does not change the notice arithmetic; it affects the professional development pathway rather than the exit rules.

For the broader detail on probation, see probation period notice period.

Supply teachers

Supply teachers work through agencies or direct arrangements with schools. STPCD resignation dates do not usually apply. Notice is agency-contract specific, typically one week or one month, with agency-worker regulations providing baseline protection after 12 weeks. See agency worker rights for the framework.

Useful calculators

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What are the UK teacher resignation dates?: For teachers on the STPCD (School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document) in England and Wales, the deadlines are 31 October to leave at the end of the autumn term (31 December), 28 February to leave at the end of the spring term (30 April), and 31 May to leave at the end of the summer term (31 August). Miss the deadline and you must wait for the next window.
Do resignation dates apply to academy teachers?: Academies are not bound by STPCD but most adopt it or a close variant. Read your contract; if it references STPCD or the Burgundy Book, the same three dates apply. Some multi-academy trusts use their own terms with slightly different deadlines. When in doubt, ask HR before drafting a resignation.
What if I miss the resignation deadline?: You have three options: wait for the next window, negotiate a shorter release with the head teacher and governors (occasionally granted for exceptional circumstances or where cover is in place), or resign in breach with the standard consequences (loss of pay, possible reference issues, possible TRA referral in extreme cases). Waiting is usually the safer option.
Do independent schools use the same dates?: No, independent schools set their own contractual notice. It is often longer than the STPCD notice (typically a full term or six months). Some use a hybrid approach with the STPCD dates for consistency. The contract is definitive; STPCD does not apply by default.
Does the deadline apply to heads and senior leaders?: Yes, but with a longer notice window. Head teachers and deputies typically have a two-term or three-term notice under STPCD, meaning the effective resignation deadline is earlier. For example, a head resigning for a summer-term end usually needs to notify by 31 December rather than 31 May.

Sources and further reading

GOV.UK: School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) 2024 — Statutory pay and conditions for teachers in England and Wales.
NEU: Resignation dates for teachers — National Education Union guidance for members.
NASUWT: Teachers' contracts — Union reference for contracts and resignations.
DfE Burgundy Book — Conditions of Service for School Teachers.

General guidance. Individual contracts override where different. For union support, contact NEU, NASUWT or your recognised representative body.