Teacher Resignation Dates for 2025/26 – Key Deadlines Schools and Educators Must Know

Planning ahead is key when it comes to education recruitment. Whether you’re a teacher looking for a new opportunity or a school preparing for staffing changes, understanding the resignation deadlines for teachers is essential to staying on track for the 2025/26 academic year.

Across England and Wales, most school-based teachers and leadership staff follow nationally agreed notice periods set out in the Burgundy Book. These dates are widely used by schools and academies as the standard framework for managing staff movement.

Here are the critical dates you need to know if you're planning to change roles or recruit new staff in time for the next academic year.

Teacher Resignation Deadlines for the 2025/26 Academic Year

If you're employed in a permanent teaching role, you'll typically need to submit your resignation by one of the following deadlines, depending on the term you intend to leave:

Headteachers and senior leaders are often required to give one additional month’s notice.

Understanding these teaching notice periods helps ensure a smoother transition for both candidates and schools—and reduces the risk of missed opportunities or staffing gaps.

For Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Education Support Staff

If you’re looking to start a new teaching job in September 2026, your resignation must usually be submitted by 31 May 2026.

Those planning a mid-year move should prepare ahead of the earlier deadlines:

• 28 February 2026 for an April 2026 start
• 31 October 2025 for a January 2026 start

We recommend candidates begin their job search well in advance of these notice dates to allow time for:

• Applications and interviews
• Safeguarding and compliance checks
• School matching and onboarding

For Schools and Academy Trusts

If you’re looking to recruit teaching or non-teaching staff for a September 2026 start, we recommend starting the hiring process by March or April 2026 to ensure your preferred candidates can hand in their notice by 31 May.

Similarly, for staff starting in January or May, schools should ideally advertise and appoint by mid-September and mid-January, respectively.

Getting ahead of these resignation dates gives your school access to the strongest pool of talent and supports smoother handovers between incoming and outgoing staff.

Why Early Planning Matters

Educators are more likely to move roles around these resignation windows, meaning the market is most active in the run-up to each deadline. Schools that recruit proactively benefit from:

• More choice of experienced, high-calibre candidates
• Time to complete thorough vetting and compliance
• A better cultural match with staff who understand your school's vision

Flourish Education supports schools across Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Dudley, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and surrounding areas with day-to-day supply, long-term supply and permanent recruitment solutions. Our dedicated consultants are here to make the process smooth, compliant and efficient.

Let’s Get Ready for 2025/26

At Flourish Education, we’re proud to be your trusted, local education recruitment agency—small enough to care, large enough to cope. We’ve supported hundreds of schools and thousands of educators across the West Midlands since 2010.

Whether you’re looking to make your next career move or recruit top teaching talent, now is the time to take action.