Becoming a teacher can be a great job; no doubt about it. You have long holidays. You can be home a solid two hours earlier than those poor sardines commuting to and from the city each day. But is it an easy way to make a living? Does it pay well? Is the classroom a pleasant environment to spend your working life in?
Resignation Letter Teacher Australia: The Reasons Faculty Depart
The answers to these questions are a resounding no. At least, if the statistics from Whitehall's Independent Spending watchdog are anything to go by. In 2011, only 62% of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) were still teaching a year later, compared to 2005, when 80% were still teaching after a year. These days it seems as if the problem is getting steadily worse, with more and more teachers looking into how to get out of teaching.
In 2014, 11% of teachers, NQTs and experienced ones alike, left the teaching profession. This proves that time has done nothing to alleviate an already desperate situation. As though we need even more evidence, recent-year statistics indicate this is an ongoing trend. The sudden scramble to teach remotely during Coronavirus pandemic lockdowns could be why today's teachers want to leave. The trends disprove that idea.
As recently as June 2022, The Guardian published an article revealing Australian instructors' frustrations. Among their claims, schools being run as a business and educators serving as customer service personnel prevails. The levels of disrespect are untenable. It comes from other faculty members, the facility's administration and particularly, from parents. They are the 'customers' of the school business model,
This mass exodus has left many secondary schools struggling to fill teacher vacancies. Particularly in subjects like Science and Maths that demand more specialist knowledge. It is not just the regular teaching positions that are remaining vacant, either. Schools have reported increasing difficulties in appointing staff to senior posts, too. The reasons for this mass exodus are many. And it's not just an Australian phenomenon, it's happening worldwide.
Why are educators around the world leaving the profession in droves? Pretty much for the same reasons: stress, workload, low pay and bad behaviour to name just a few. Constantly changing curricula confuse and overwhelm - not just the students, either. We may as well add standardised testing to the list, too, and the lack of freedom to exercise one's own pedagogy.
Testing places high importance on student assessment. As such, the number of tests pupils are expected to sit has increased significantly. More time testing means less time educating. Faculty members increasingly spend their time marking papers rather than planning lessons.
The nature of new educational policies seems to be a major factor when it comes to making the decision to leave teaching. How they are implemented and enforced adds insult to injury. In short, education systems around the world don't live up to the model that attracted so many talented individuals to the profession.
It's no wonder so many educators opt for a career change. Who wants to spend all their working lives telling pupils to be quiet and showing them how to behave properly? And then, going home to a pile of tests waiting to be marked? Certainly not you and me, if you are reading this post with intent.
When to Write Your Resignation Letter Au
Are you among the many who've decided to leave the profession? You have no need to feel guilty or that you failed. You have a right to feel angry but don't let anger dictate your moves. How should you proceed?
Working in education is unlike any other position, from a quitting perspective. Sure, you could storm off - whether in a huff or not is up to you. You'll probably suffer some professional consequences; your recommendations likely won't be stellar. But who really suffers after an abrupt quit? That's why no educator would punish their pupils by leaving them in the lurch.
And besides, up and quitting your job - any job, with nothing to go to, is sheer folly, especially in these economic times. So you need to plan. Decide when you would like to leave. Disregard the insistent voice inside your head screaming "Immediately!". Try to aim for the end of the term, at least for your students' sake.
As a courtesy, you might inform your administrators of your decision. You might not feel warmly towards them but leaving on good terms is always the best policy. Even if you know you'll never return, your superiors still hold your future in their hands. You'll want a good recommendation from them, at least.
It's a coin toss whether or not anyone would try to talk you out of going. More and more administrators realise just how big this problem is. Some sympathise with their departing faculty members. Yours may or may not try to entice you with more money, a lighter schedule and maybe even an assistant. There's no shame in resisting their efforts. Just do it politely but firmly.
Keep your anger and disillusionment in check as you write your letter of resignation. Disrespect and undignified treatment are two main reasons educators leave the work they trained so hard to do. Don't give your administrators any grounds to justify the way they treat their faculty. Imbue your resignation letter with self-respect. Let every word you write proclaim your respect for them and the profession as a whole.
You don't need to submit to a back-and-forth when you hand in your official resignation letter. This formal notice of your intention should signal that negotiations are finished. You should make it clear that you will work for the remainder of your notice period when you hand your letter in. But be equally clear that your decision is final.
Resignation Letter Teacher Australia
What should a resignation letter say? Such a letter can be short and and to the point, detailing just the essentials. You might simply state that you are leaving your post on or by your chosen date. You do not have to explain the whys and wherefores. But we stress that you must keep the tone courteous and professional.
You may choose to pen an exceptional letter of resignation. One that leaves your administrators with a positive feeling towards you. This will help to reinforce or establish a basis for the glowing references they'll write on your behalf. Such a letter might include praise for specific administrative decisions. You may also include warm sentiments about other faculty members.
Whatever your reasons for quitting, maintaining your professionalism during the resignation process is the key to avoiding rancour. Any mention of personal grievances and petty slights should be avoided at all costs. Do not make detrimental remarks about other members of staff. Above all, do not refer to anyone with a curse word and don't write where administrators could stuff their policies.
Even if you are leaving on bad terms, writing bad comments about the staff, school or job will not bode well for your future. It only serves to make you seem petty. It may make it hard for you to land even online tutoring jobs. And it will likely make working through your notice period far more awkward than is necessary.
Regardless of how you write your letter - short and sweet or a bit more detailed, you should include at least some of your accomplishments. Acknowledge any responsibilities you have held. Express your gratitude for the trust placed in you. Give your thanks for the knowledge and experience you have gained.
If you're an NQT, you may not have enough time on the job to have taken on any extra responsibilities. In that case, cite your contributions to the department or school. You can also express your gratitude for the opportunities you were given, even if that only means only having been hired.
Losing an employee can have a significant impact on a school, especially if it is small. No matter how you feel about your situation, take the time to inform your administration of your leaving before you submit your official letter. Your professional courtesy will go a long way towards keeping the school running as smoothly as possible.
Deliver your signed resignation letter in person. This, too, proves your professionalism and commands respect. You may discuss your decision with your principal. Even if you prefer not to, this contact gives you the chance to personally thank them for the time you have spent at their school. All of these things will leave a positive image of you in their mind and make for an easier departure.
How to Write a Resignation Letter Au
In the previous section, you read about general guidelines for resignation letter writing. Now, let's get into specifics. Statistics show that NQTs tend to leave the profession in greater numbers. These departures will thus be our starting point.
But first, we need to point out a few facts. NQTs are, by definition, newly-qualified. That means they likely don't have a lot of time in the profession. Or on this planet, relatively speaking. The average NQT profile reflects under-30s with at least an undergraduate degree. With a median age of 25, most of it spent in formal education, these faculty members have little professional experience to draw on. Thus, writing a resignation letter Au may be challenging.
Any good letter begins with a greeting. Dear Ms/Mr (administrator's name) might feel a bit insincere, especially if you're frustrated. Remember that you're striving for professionalism and courtesy. The 'dear', in this case, does not imply that they're actually dear to you. It reflects deference. It strikes the tone you're striving for.
If you want to keep your letter short and sweet, launch straight into your intent to depart. You might start with "I write this letter to signal my intent to resign my position, effective...". If you'd rather pen a less bare-bones missive, try "After due consideration, I must conclude that being an educator is not the right profession for me". You may then list a couple of reasons why or disclose how you came to the realisation.
You shouldn't start your letter with "I regret to inform you... ", "I'm pained to write that..." or any other opening that shows your resolve is less than firm. It gives the impression that you're ambivalent about your decision. Your administrators may seize on that as their cue to pressure you into staying. If your decision is firm, let your writing reflect that.
How do you go on from there? A bare-bones notice should swing into accomplishments: "In the time I've been here, I quickly ..." or "I took part in... ". Something along those lines. Follow those disclosures up with what you've learned from those experiences.
A more florid letter might show a little introspection. You might talk about how you've had to adjust your vision of the profession once you were in the thick of it, for instance. Here, it helps to take a clinical approach. Berate neither yourself nor the administrators. And especially not your students, their parents or fellow faculty members.
You may then go on to lay out how you would likely do yourself, the school and the learners a disservice by continuing in a profession you feel you're not suited for. And then, pivot into your participation, accomplishments and what you learned from it all. Those pluses will set the stage for the appreciation you'll express to close your letter out.
"I'm thankful for the chance...", "I'm grateful for the opportunity... " and "Thank you for... " are all suitable starts to your end paragraph. No matter which style of letter you write, concise or flowery, you must close on a high note. You might not be keen to fawn, particularly when you're angry and disillusioned. Just remember: this is business, not personal.
It's also a learning experience. Once the temper quits flaring and you can put away the antacid bottle, you'll see all of the takeaways for what they are. You learned things about yourself. You saw the classroom from a different perspective. As an NQT, You've taken your first forays into the professional world. All of these are valuable milestones in your life.
It's now time to call an end to that experience. The mere act of writing about your intent will be cathartic; you can afford to be a bit generous with your closing sentiments. You should choose from standards like "Best Regards", "With Warm Regards" or the one-word "Sincerely". But before you do, reiterate your intent to continue your duties in full until your resignation date.
Handwritten or Typed?
Writing your letter by hand gives it a more personal touch. But wait, didn't we say it's business, not personal? It's actually both. You've made a personal decision about a business matter.
To be fair, the jury is out on this question. Most corporate job resignations require a timestamped paper trail. That usually requires sending such letters, via email, to several people. Educational services, though corporate in some aspects, don't quite fit that bill. Where educational facilities are concerned, emailing your supervisors your resignation is simply not good form.
It's much more courteous to personally hand over your letter of resignation. Should it be typed or handwritten? That's not really the question. It should be legible. If your handwriting might leave anything open to interpretation, it's best that you type your contentions out.
Resignation Letter Au: Experienced Teachers
NQTs are leaving the profession at an alarming rate but so are more experienced educators, particularly in Australia. According to the latest statistics, 46.6 is the average age of resigning faculty members across the country. You might wonder what age has to do with anything. Where trained, experienced educators are concerned, it's quite nearly the whole ball of wax.
That demographic has spent roughly 20 years leading classrooms. They have partaken in continuing education initiatives and tested revolutionary educational methods. They've adapted to educational reforms and driven transitions to new curriculum standards.
They've earned the privilege of choosing which subjects and student groups they prefer to lead. They get first pick at choice assignments. They get to initiate and oversee project work. And they get paid more. Why would a professional who spent two decades paying their dues suddenly walk away from everything they've worked for?
In a sense, you might say that COVID became the straw that broke the camel's back. Or, more specifically, it broke faculty members' will to see things through till retirement. Pre-COVID, these instructors operated in a pressure cooker environment. Writing reports, marking papers and expanding class sizes were hard enough to manage.
Remote teaching during lockdowns turned the heat up on that already hissing vessel. Teachers had to come up with ways to meet educational targets. Practically overnight, they had to revamp their pedagogy. Soon, they were drowning in emailed homework assignments while trying to conduct Zoom lessons.
Did they get enough support? Most return a particularly bitter 'no'. Faculty members had the same fears we all did/do: health concerns, isolation fears and a desperate need for support. Most say all they got was "Who cares? Do your job!". Is it any wonder that so many would rather not?
As an older, more experienced teacher, you have a bit more latitude in formulating your resignation letter. You've had a longer working relationship with your administrators. You likely know how to communicate with them effectively.
That balances against your very determined urge to tell them off. You've paid your dues, after all. Why shouldn't you have your say in any way you'd like? Because it serves neither you nor anyone else involved well.
As you will know, teachers are prominent figures within the local community and in their students' lives. This makes the way you go about leaving your teaching career all the more important. It is imperative that you are as considerate as possible when choosing your words and informing others of your decision.
Still, your circumstances may dictate you leave teaching at short notice. You may have serious health concerns or have another job lined up. But even where you are required to make difficult compromises, take consideration on your employers and colleagues, the students and their parents.
Like NQTs, you may choose to write a short, bare-bones notification or a slightly longer letter. For you, the challenge lies in choosing which accomplishments to highlight. You'll have many initiatives you've participated in to select from. Write about the ones that have paved the way to the new, upcoming chapter in your life.
For example, "That workshop on communication that I coordinated last year taught me advanced public speaking skills. I intend to explore those talents in my new career as a public speaker." The idea is to acknowledge the benefits of your experience while leaving no room for doubt that you're moving on.
Or, if you really want to drive your point home, you might touch on your recent remote education experiences. "Delivering instruction remotely, I realised I have it in me to start my own instructional video channel. I've made preparations to explore that opportunity."
Handing in your Resignation Letter Teacher Australia
Resignation letters should be delivered by hand to the intended recipient. Choose when to do this sensibly. Make sure the intended recipient will have the opportunity to see you. Make sure their schedule isn't packed with them running late for something. Or about to rush into a meeting. Arrange your appointment with them beforehand, if possible.
You owe it to yourself and to them to deliver your letter without any scheduling pressures. Your direct superior will most certainly want to talk to you about your decision and your future plans. They may show regret at your decision, particularly if you have been a valued member of the staff.
Obviously, if you are leaving on bad terms you will not hang around and chat. But you may wish to 'offload' a little, explaining the reasons behind your decision. Do this with caution. You don't want to create an uncomfortable atmosphere when you still have to work for another half term.
Whatever your reasons for leaving, be sure to read up on your rights to redundancy pay. Redundancy pay, also known as severance pay is a sum of money awarded to former educators who have been made redundant. Redundancy pay is only available to teachers who have spent at least 1 year at their job. If you're unsure about how much you're entitled to, you can access the government's redundancy pay calculator.
Sample Resignation Letter Au
The internet is flooded with examples and templates of resignation letters for teachers. Are you wondering how to write a resignation letter that is fit for purpose? Have you seen any of those sample letters? Some are good and some, not so much.
You could choose a particular resignation letter template if you are unsure of how to proceed. You will then have to adapt it to your own personal narrative. How much of that narrative are you willing to share just to quit your job? There is no strict way in which letters of resignation should be structured. Nor are there any rules regarding the content of your letter apart from the crucial information.
Obviously, you have to disclose the position you're resigning from. Here, you should be as specific as possible. For instance, "... resign my position as a primary school teacher... " is too vague. Instead, write "... resign my position as Year 4 English teacher... ".
Equally obvious, you should specify your last day of employment. Walking in and shouting "I quit!" only works in the movies (and maybe fast food restaurants). If nothing else, you have an obligation to your students to see your commitment through. At least, to a suitable ending point.
You might think it's not necessary to include your contact details. After all, the school has had them on file since before your first day on the job. However, if you follow a business letter template, you'll include your contact information as a matter of format.
Of course, there is a number of things you may wish to add to make your letter more personal and less of a formality. For instance, you might mention some of the reasons for your resignation. Educators don't all leave their jobs because they're stressed and fed up, after all. Maybe you're hoping to spend more time looking after your family. Perhaps you've accepted another job offer which requires you to relocate.
The degree of gratitude you express should be proportionate to your reasons for leaving. If you're angry, sad and frustrated, don't feel the need to gush. However, if it weren't for something better, you might have stayed in education... You can afford to be a bit more effusive with your thanks.
No matter what, don't be tempted to turn your letter into an essay. Letters of resignation represent your official notice of leaving your post. It should, therefore, be relatively short. Should you feel that your letter is getting too long or even too personal, don't baulk at paring it down. You can always save what you edit out for your chat when you hand your letter in. This will not only keep your letter short and sweet, but it will also lighten the mood of the meeting and reduce the likelihood of uncomfortable silences.
A Final Thought
Whether you're leaving gladly or furiously, leaving entails a grieving process. If your tenure as an educator left you bitter and disillusioned, you will have to process those feelings before addressing your future. When you settled on a career as a faculty member, wasn't that supposed to be for life? You now have to rethink your plans.
Likewise if you're headed to a bright new future you couldn't have anticipated early in your working life. You have many new experiences to look forward to. Maybe new colleagues but certainly, a new environment and new activities. A new pattern to your life. Sweet as those might be, you'll invariably flash back to classroom moments. Maybe with some measure of longing.
Thus, your resignation letter isn't just for your supervisors. It's for you, too. In fact, it's mostly for you. It marks the start of your collection of lasts. Your last round of assessment exams. Your last instance of having to host parent conferences... All the way until you wipe down the board for the last time. It gives you permission to start resolving your emotional stew.
So write your resignation letter for yourself. Try your hardest to convey the best about the position you're relinquishing. Do your utmost to minimise the worst. Accord the occasion the dignity it - and you! - deserve. That's really the only way to write a resignation letter.
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