What Happens If A Headteacher Quits?
12 Nov, 20241-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How much notice a Headteacher needs to give to resign.
- If a school can run without a Headteacher.
- If a Headteacher can leave without notice.
- If a Headteacher can resign mid-term.
- Where the latest Headteacher jobs are and how to apply for them.
Ever wondered what happens if a Headteacher quits? Or who takes over the responsibilities and runs the school? Or can a Headteacher leave without notice or resign mid-term?
According to SchoolDash data, Headteacher turnover is still 14% higher than before the pandemic, which implies that the departure of Headteachers is a result of other circumstances and the demands of the job.
Leaving Headship can be a difficult decision and there are many contractual and practical considerations involved. Throughout this blog, we delve into the protocol for if a Headteacher quits and who takes on the responsibility in their absence.
How much notice does a Headteacher need to give to resign?
In UK schools, Headteachers are generally required to give a notice period before resigning from their position but the notice depends on the term and the Headteachers contract.
The Burgundy Book specifies that Headteachers are typically required to give 3 months’ notice in autumn and spring terms, and four months’ notice in summer. To leave at Christmas (31st December), Headteachers are required to provide notice by 30th September, and to leave at the end of the school year (31st August), they must give notice no later than 30th April.
It isn’t possible to postpone or intervene with a Headteacher's departure as long as they’ve complied with the Headteacher notice periods and resignation deadlines.
Can a school run without a Headteacher?
Schools must have a Headteacher, or someone to carry out their duties until a Headteacher is appointed. The Education Act 2002 requires that all maintained schools have a Headteacher or someone to take over their responsibilities in their absence.
When a Headteacher quits, the school must ensure that someone is in place to carry out the role until the position has been permanently filled. The responsibilities can be covered by a Deputy or acting Headteacher, another member of staff or an interim leadership arrangement.
Can a Headteacher leave without notice?
Headteachers are required to work their contractual notice period - which is longer than statutory notice - and cannot leave without giving notice. A Headteachers notice period is longer than that of Teachers, as it is more difficult to recruit a leader and schools need more time to advertise the position and find a suitable replacement.
Headteachers can only leave without notice in exceptional circumstances such as a hostile or unsafe work environment. If a Headteacher leaves without an agreement with their employer, they could be in breach of their contract; this could negatively impact future references and the school could also sue the Headteacher for any costs incurred.
Can a Headteacher resign mid-term?
A Headteacher in the UK can resign mid-term as long as they give the required contractual notice period, follow the proper procedures and make a request to do so in writing at the earliest possible opportunity.
Schools typically prefer that a Headteacher leaves at a term break to give time for an acting head or interim leadership arrangement. For Headteachers that want to resign mid-term it is best to give notice of resignation within the first half of the term in which you intend to leave.
There are typically contractual and practical considerations involved including negotiation with the school's governing body to request a shorter notice period or using accrued leave. In extreme cases in case of illness, personal emergencies, or significant issues, a Headteacher might be allowed to leave with shorter notice.
Headteacher jobs
If you’re searching for your next Headteacher position, why not take a look at the latest Headteacher jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Struggling to recruit a Headteacher?
As a specialist Headteacher recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools, Multi Academy Trusts, Alternative Provisions and Pupil Referral Units (PRU) with their recruitment needs.
If you’re struggling to fill a Headteacher vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- North of the UK - Jamie Heath
- South of the UK - Dane Matthews
Meet Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re a vibrant and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West.
We continually reimagine the recruitment process to challenge convention and defy expectations; from creating a better recruitment experience to remodelling employee engagement, we thrive off doing things differently and turning heads along the way.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
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