Occasions
Leavers
Get a reminder
Let us email you a few weeks before the occasion
August 1, 202413 min readTeachers make a huge difference in our lives, which is why it’s a pleasure to pick gifts for her retirement. Who wouldn’t want to put a smile on someone’s face? The only problem is, gifts for a retiring teacher need to be as epic as their legacy, but what do you choose? And yikes, what if it’s a headteacher retirement gift you need?
Whether you are part of the school teaching and support team or if you’re a grateful parent or student, we’ve got you covered with some decent ideas that will work, whatever they’re into.
We want you to have lots of choices for a significant, meaningful and thoughtful gift that will leave them thrilled (or maybe a little damp-eyed with all the emotion). Don’t feel you have to go it alone, a group collection could be the answer to steering away from the cheaper and more forgettable gifts and getting something more substantial.
Start your teacher retirement pot today!
A good teacher retirement gift should reflect the teacher's personality, interests, and the impact they’ve made. Thoughtful and meaningful gifts, such as a personalised keepsake, a gift card for a favorite hobby, or a heartfelt thank-you note, are always appreciated. Gifts that symbolise relaxation or new adventures in retirement, like travel gear or a cosy blanket, are also great choices.
Yes, personalised gifts can make a retirement gift extra special. Items like engraved plaques, customised books, or photo albums that capture memories of their teaching career show thoughtfulness and appreciation. However, the most important aspect is that the gift reflects genuine gratitude and care.
The value of a retirement gift lies more in its thoughtfulness than its cost. A meaningful gift doesn’t need to be expensive—handwritten notes from students, a small group contribution for a larger gift, or even a heartfelt thank-you can make a lasting impression. Choose a budget that feels comfortable and focus on creating a meaningful gesture.
Handwritten notes
A low budget gift doesn’t mean you have to compromise on meaning. A handwritten note is a great way to show how much you appreciated your teacher and is something they can cherish forever. You can ask your classmates to contribute their own notes and compile them into a heartfelt compilation. Add a Collection Pot to make it extra special. Parents can contribute how much or as little as they want.
Customised Coffee Mug or Tote Bag
A Personalised a mug or tote bag is a great way to show your teacher you care. Why not include a quote from their favourite book to make the gift extra special.
A potted plant
A potted plant, such as a cactus or succulents, symbolises growth and new beginnings. Alternatively, a small herb garden kit can be an engaging way to start a new hobby.
Engraved pen
A pen engraved with a personal message is a thoughtful gift. It pairs nicely with a letter writing set
Blanket
The best thing about retirement is that you can stay home and watch TV all day if you so choose. Give your teacher a blanket to keep them cosy during those Netflix marathons.
Premium luggage
They might be taking more trips now! Spoil them with a case for carry on or as checked baggage, depending on what their plans are likely to be. Samsonite make some great cases.
This hamper is £100 but features an epic amount of cheese and wine for a great send off. A great range of all cheeses from Stiltons to Blackmount for sharing (or eating in secret now they have time in the day!)
Luxury Watch or Jewelry
A timeless piece like a high-quality watch or elegant jewelry engraved with a personal message can commemorate their years of dedication and service. It’s a classic, meaningful gift that will last a lifetime.
Have they made a huge mark on the school? They deserve a bit of fame! This great personalised blue plaque is under £35 and can be customised with their name and not only is it fun, it’s also quite a sentimental teacher retirement gift. Blue plaques are used to celebrate the links between notable figures of the past and their homes or places of work. While you might not get it actually up on the wall of the school, they can enjoy the memento at home.
Not all of us have the pleasure of getting a trophy, and it would be a sad day to leave the workforce without one! Why not take a look at some simple and thoughtful trophies from glass that can be a stylish ornament with a twist?
We will touch on food and drink as a category in a bit as gifts for a retiring teacher, but any engraved wood is a special gift! Consider a biscuit and tea holder, ideal for those new leisurely mornings. An engraved cheese board can then be there for the late nights, carving off chunks of cheddar and bites of brie, making it a more luxe experience! This glasses stand is another great option if they are a specs wearer.
They’ve seen many drawings, clay treasures and crafts through the years as students hone their artistic talents, but how can that translate to an amazing gift for them? Perhaps the students would like to draw the teacher, or work together on one large image, or for older children, perhaps a mosaic would be an ambitious yet achievable craft project? Savvy parents can source the extras to make it impactful, whether thats a nice set of tiles, frames clays and paints or the right fabric for a blanket printing or a canvas.
Treat them to a delectable three course lunch for two between Monday to Friday in the magnificent Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant. At £189.00 it’s a significant teacher retirement gift, but one they will remember forever!
This restored 1920’s train has sheltered royalty and been a star of the silver screen. Why not treat them to a meal. Whether a 3 course affair with pork and heritage apple terrine and loin of venison or a champagne afternoon tea, this train ride from London Victoria is one to remember! £350 will cover one bottle of Veuve Clicquot for two and a a festive afternoon tea as well as round-trip travel.
A great cake is a send off that will allow them to make a speech. Today is not the day for a Colin cake! This beautiful customisable version from Bakerdays allows you to add their name to a choice of flavoured spongers, from chocolate and lemon to victoria sponge. Choose from small right through to enough cake for 100!
A cabinet of chocolates? Name a better gift for a sweet lover! This cabinet has 61 filled and solid chocolates in milk, white and dark and might last them a year, if they go steady and don’t leave it in the staff room!
Special items for their retirement
Wood is a lovely tactile material that feels premium but can be appreciated by everyone. Unlike picking between gold or silver or a brand, a watch such as this one feels expensive but also thoughtful. Perfect for a teacher who implemented a first school or nurtured a love of the outdoors!
Home essentials
If they are going to be at home a bit more, how can you make it even more fun? Whether they’d love a night watch camera to capture wildlife, a bird box linked to Bluetooth or perhaps a telescope, microscope or a globe, think about the items they’d get the most pleasure from.
Can you find out when they started at the school? A newspaper from that year can be a really nice touch, and a school admin could likely help you find the precise date!
Retirement means all the time in the world to bob along and appreciate the little things. A river cruise is a great choice, and they can be done in or outside of London at their leisure. This could even be booked for somewhere abroad if you know about an upcoming holiday!
Practical Retirement Gifts for Teachers
A subscription to a magazine or streaming service can be the gift that keeps on giving.. Popular options include Netflix, Audible, or a magazine subscription tailored to their interests. Another option to consider is a meal kit delivery service to make cooking easier.
Being a teacher can be stressful at times, now that your teacher is retiring they deserve a well earned break. Teachers often pick up new hobbies in retirement to help them relax. Gift cards to places like local bookstores, gardening centers, crafting stores, or even spa services can be a thoughtful gesture.
Now that your teacher has retired, they will have a whole new schedule. A high-quality journal or planner can help them get organised and reflect on their days. Consider ones designed for retirees that include sections for setting goals, tracking adventures, or simply jotting down thoughts.
You’ve had us scratching our heads for headteacher retirement gifts, but we think we have found some great ideas they will love.
Creating a memory book is a great way to record memories for headtachers to treasure. You can send out a request to previous teachers, students and members of the community to talk about the impact of the headteacher.
Gather heartfelt memories and messages from students, staff, and parents:
As a headteacher, they are likely to get a lot of cards, but to also have so many trinkets and mementos from their time heading up a school. A treasured leather memory box is a fantastic heartfelt treat that they can use and appreciate. To source one:
We love an experience and with the flexibility of many experience gift cards nowadays, it’s a safe bet too! Treat your headteacher to a gift intended for a countryside stay in a hotel. If they've spent a career in the busy city, this will be an ideal respite, or if they’ve spent time in a small village school, consider a city break or even a trip to Paris on the Eurostar!
Still not sure on the retirement gifts for a teacher that will really blow them away? Consider allowing them to choose with a Teacher Collection Pot.
Let them know how special they are in a short video or written message that they can cherish sent from all the mums, dads and colleagues in their lives. You can choose your own images (perhaps snaps from that 1980s mullet!) and decide whether to make the total raised public.
Select the Pot’s closing date and time to ensure they find out at the perfect moment, and then it’s up to them. They can redeem as a gift card, or cash out into their bank account. You can still give a token gift, or you can use the Collection Pot to kickstart your group fund collection.
The best part is it’s free to get started! Click here to set up a free Pot today. Set up your Teacher Collection Pot with this guide on starting a group fund. Need more ideas? Check out our post on nursery teacher gifts for additional inspiration.
Elaine Keep is an accomplished content writer with over 15 years of experience in the field of marketing and content creation for many leading brands, where she shares her passion for research and helping others through her articles. You can also find her in 'mum mode', walking in the countryside or enjoying the dreamy combo of a new non-fiction book with a tea and chocolate bar to hand.
Collection Pot is a platform that allows you to create a fundraising page for any cause. Whether you’re raising money for a birthday, wedding, or a cause close to your heart, Collection Pot makes it easy to collect donations from friends and family.
Create a Pot
