Bamber Education

28/05/2026

With the Burgundy Book resignation deadline on 31 May, schools that still have unfilled teaching posts will be looking at how to cover them without rushing the wrong appointment.

A few options worth considering:

Long-term supply while you search: a qualified teacher on long-term supply covers the role from September while you continue searching for the right permanent candidate, avoiding a gap in provision.

Widen the criteria: candidates with strong transferable skills, even if they don't tick every box, often work out well.

Experience in a different key stage, a related subject specialism, or a track record with challenging pupils can matter more than a perfect CV match.

Work with a recruiter who has access to active candidates: job boards show you who is actively searching, but recruiters have relationships with candidates considering a move who haven't advertised themselves.

Bamber Education works with candidates across secondary, independent, SEN and college settings in Bristol and the surrounding area.

Still recruiting for September? Visit buff.ly/YwSzC1O

27/05/2026

Long-term supply placements offer variety, flexibility, and the chance to experience different school environments before committing to a permanent post.

For some teachers, long-term supply is a deliberate choice that provides control over workload without the full pastoral and extra-curricular commitments of permanent posts.

For others, it serves as a bridge between permanent roles, allowing them to try a school's culture and leadership before deciding whether to apply for a permanent position there.

Bamber Education specialises in long-term placements as well as permanent posts across secondary, independent, SEN and college settings.

We work with teachers to find roles that match what they are actually looking for, whether that is variety, stability, or something in between.

Visit buff.ly/YwSzC1O to discuss what might work for you.

22/05/2026

Thinking about moving from the state sector to an independent school? Here's what doesn't always get talked about.

Plenty of teachers are curious about independent schools but aren't sure what's actually different beyond the obvious, so it's worth laying out properly.

What tends to be a draw:

Independent schools aren't bound by the Burgundy Book, which means more flexibility around notice periods and start dates than state teachers are used to.

Class sizes are usually smaller, so you've got real time to know your students rather than managing a room of 32.

There's often more room for genuine subject specialism.

You're more likely to teach your subject at depth, including to A Level and beyond.

Pastoral structures look different at every school.

House systems, tutor groups, boarding setups, it varies, and the culture varies with it.

What's worth asking about before you commit:

Pay progression isn't standardised the way it is in state schools.

Some independents pay above the national scale, some sit below it, and the structure differs school to school.

Co-curricular involvement is usually part of the role rather than an add-on. That can mean Saturday sport, running a club, midweek fixtures or trips. Some teachers love it, some find it's more than they expected.

None of this is a reason not to make the move. It's just worth knowing before you do.

Every independent school has its own character, which is why we sit down with every teacher properly before putting them forward anywhere. The wrong school for one teacher is the right school for another.

Bamber places teachers into independent schools across Bristol and the surrounding area.

If you're considering a move, get in touch.

bambereducation.co.uk
0117 422 0915
[email protected]

21/05/2026

The Burgundy Book resignation deadline is next Sunday (31 May 2026).

If you're a teacher in an LA maintained school and you haven't given notice yet, this is the date that decides your next six months.

Miss it → you stay in post until January 2027.
Submit it → September could be a completely different chapter.

We're still placing teachers into September roles right now.

One conversation is all it takes. We'll handle the rest.

Message us today or reach out directly:

bambereducation.co.uk
0117 422 0915
[email protected]

08/05/2026

The Burgundy Book resignation deadline of 31 May 2026 marks the point by which teachers in local authority maintained schools must give notice.

Missing it means staying in your current post until at least 31 December 2026, with the earliest possible new role starting January 2027.

Bamber Education is placing teachers into long-term and permanent roles across secondary, independent, SEN and colleges.

What to do if you're considering a move:

The time to explore options is now rather than waiting until the resignation deadline approaches.

This gives you time to research schools thoroughly, attend interviews without rushing, and make an informed decision.

It also means entering the process when schools have the widest range of vacancies available.

Considering your options for September? Contact Bamber Education on 0117 422 0915 or visit bambereducation.co.uk to discuss teaching roles.

06/05/2026

The Burgundy Book resignation deadline falls on 31 May 2026.

Teachers in local authority maintained schools who miss this date remain in post until at least the end of the autumn term in December 2026.

For schools trying to fill September vacancies, the next five weeks represent the critical window when the strongest candidate pool is still actively looking.

✓ Schools that go into September fully staffed started early

Schools that typically begin the academic year with complete staffing started their recruitment search in April.

They understood that waiting until May means competing for a smaller pool of available candidates.

The teachers who planned ahead and submitted resignations by the end of May are the ones schools are interviewing now.

Each week from this point forward, the candidate pool narrows as strong teachers accept positions elsewhere.

✓ Why the deadline matters for recruitment timing

The 31 May deadline creates a natural rhythm in the teacher recruitment calendar.

Teachers considering a September move need to resign by the end of May to honour their contractual notice period.

Schools advertising vacancies in June or July are often recruiting from teachers who either missed the deadline, are returning to teaching after a break, or are coming from independent schools with different notice requirements.

These candidates can be excellent, but the pool is demonstrably smaller than it was in April and early May.

✓ The candidate pool narrows each week

Schools with vacancies still unfilled are working against a tightening timeline. Each week that passes between now and 31 May sees more teachers commit to new positions.

Schools that wait until after half term to begin recruitment face a significantly reduced field of candidates.

The teachers still available in June may include strong returners or career changers, but the volume and choice narrow considerably.

Bamber Education places teachers into long-term and permanent posts across secondary, independent, SEN and colleges in the Bristol area.

If you have September vacancies to fill, contact us at buff.ly/FY7LHEA to discuss your requirements.

Bamber Education is a committed education recruitment agency specialising in securing long term and permanent teaching posts for qualified teachers.

05/05/2026

May brings several pressures together at once.

SATs run from 11–14 May, GCSE and A Level exams begin on 7 May, end-of-year reports are due, Ofsted inspections remain a possibility, and teachers have until 31 May to resign if they want to leave at the end of the summer term.

✓ The weight of accountability all at once

Teachers are supporting pupils through high-stakes exams, writing reports that parents and senior leaders will scrutinise, and making decisions about their own professional futures, all while staying focused on the children in front of them.

If you're teaching through May right now: it's a lot, and you're not imagining it.

01/05/2026

They can sense the weekend too 😬

27/04/2026

Wootton Park School in Northampton has received £4,500 to part-fund lockable signal-blocking phone pouches for around 900 secondary pupils.

The school already operates a zero-phone policy, but the pouches make it practically enforceable.

Pupils carry their phones throughout the day without being able to access them until lessons end, removing the need to collect and store hundreds of devices daily.

The rollout includes workshops and assemblies before an end-of-year review measuring changes in behaviour, engagement and wellbeing.

Executive head teacher Dan Rosser said the project aims to create space for better concentration, stronger relationships and improved wellbeing.

For teachers weighing up schools, investment in structured classroom environments like this is worth paying attention to.

How is your school managing phone access during the day?

Read the full story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgx3xl5z2ro

24/04/2026

Is that a word or modern art?