Westonzoyland Primary School ‘Embrace Opportunities, Choose Kindness, Value Everyone’
Staff Wellbeing
Why look after the wellbeing of staff?
"The teacher wellbeing index of 2019 stated that more than half (57%) of all staff had considered leaving the sector in the past two years because of health pressures and, of those who had considered leaving, stress was an issue."
It is vital that we work together to support staff wellbeing, which in turn supports the wellbeing of pupils.
Effect on Pupils
"One study researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands interviewed a small pool of 143 new teachers over the course of a year. Those who showed higher levels of stress at the beginning of the year displayed fewer effective teaching strategies over the rest of the school year, including clear instruction, effective classroom management, and creation of a safe and stimulating classroom climate for their students, than the teachers with lower initial stress levels.
A group of University of British Columbia researchers tracked the levels of stress hormones of more than 400 elementary students in different classes. They found teachers who reported higher levels of burnout had students with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol each morning."
Managing your Wellbeing
It is important to recognise when you are beginning to before you 'burn out'. 91% of UK adults reporting that they experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year. To find out more about strategies to support you in managing 'burn out', please see the link: https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/
Signs of burnout
Who to contact?
Speak up, before it gets too much.
In the first instance, speak to the Wellbeing Action Group who will support you, offer a friendly ear or can sign post you to further support if needed.
Steps that have been taken:
- Opportunities to take PPA from home.
- Wellbeing staff meeting time allocated.
- A flexible, supportive and collaborative culture.
- A Wellbeing Action group is in place and available to support staff when needed.
- Subject Leader time allocated to support staff with managing additional responsibilities.
- Staff socials.
- Staff surveys multiple times a year to get anonymous feedback about staff wellbeing.
- Schemes of work that can be used to support planning.
- Cake and crisps Thursdays!
"I've worked in hundreds of schools and this is the nicest school I've worked in. If I'd known a school like this, I might not have left the profession." Supply Teacher 2025