Staff wellbeing

The latest news, analysis and professional advice on staff wellbeing, including workload, flexible working, school safety and teacher retention initiatives

Monday

26th May 2025

Ethical dilemmas: should teachers’ children get priority for places?
The latest instalment in our ethical leadership series explores what happened when staff at a popular secondary school requested an admissions policy change to give preference to their offspring
Pupils queuing outside classroom

Friday

23rd May 2025

McKinnell: Why we’re extending our flexible-working programme
Writing exclusively for Tes, the minister for school standards says the government wants every school to offer flexible working and it is providing funding to make it happen
Catherine McKinnell

Friday

9th May 2025

EIS to ballot members over teachers’ class-contact time
Policy viewed as key to reducing workload has seen ‘absolutely no progress’ in four years, says Scotland’s biggest teaching union
Clock frozen in ice Class contact time
Pay offer delay leaves Scottish teachers feeling ‘undervalued and ignored’
Class-contact time, recruitment crises and fear-inducing school inspections also set out as priorities for change by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association
Pay offer delay leaves Scottish teachers feeling ‘undervalued and ignored’

Thursday

8th May 2025

Why we gave our school leaders 5 ‘reading days’
Carving out time for headteachers to research, read or plan reduces the risk of them burning out – and offers their deputies the chance to step up, says this trust CEO
Gentleman quietly reading in an armchair

Wednesday

7th May 2025

Being a headteacher is hard but it brings joy like no other job
Amid reports that fewer teachers are interested in headship, a long-serving head explains why, despite the difficulties, it’s still an incredible role that she loves every day
Being a headteacher is hard - but brings a joy like no other job

Friday

2nd May 2025

Flexible working: how we’ve made teacher days off in term time possible
Our ‘trading-to-flex’ system allows staff to take a single day off during term time without impacting student learning, writes one headteacher. Here’s how it works
Sun shining from torn calendar

Wednesday

30th Apr 2025

Senior leaders aspiring to headship falls to record low
Almost half of heads say they need mental health support, and a third are already receiving support, finds survey
A small group of people trying to climb a wall using a ladder

Tuesday

29th Apr 2025

What I learned from my first 100 days as a trust CEO
If you’re taking the top job at a trust, first focus on building relationships, setting the culture and learning the history of the organisation, advises this recently appointed chief executive
Lots of hourglasses in the sand

Monday

28th Apr 2025

Delay new Ofsted inspections or risk further deaths, Phillipson told
Coalition of education unions, headteachers and former senior inspectors warns the education secretary about the watchdog’s school report card proposals
Bridget Phillipson Ofsted

Wednesday

23rd Apr 2025

3 ways to tackle the rise in complaints against schools
A MAT director explains the changes that need to be made to protect schools from the rising number of parent complaints, especially those that cross the line
Incoming call by angry parent

Saturday

19th Apr 2025

1 in 4 female teachers verbally abused several times a week
School staff concerns about misogyny and the influence of Andrew Tate laid bare in research that reveals how female teachers have been ‘barked at’ and intimidated by male students
Andrew Tate with boys classroom