A new ‘human-first’ approach to wellbeing in schools

An alternative take on improving wellbeing in schools has been shared by Charlie Burley, also known as The Teachers’ Health Coach, in conjunction with education specialist Learning by Questions (LbQ).

In a recent whitepaper based on research from University of Oxford, TES, NASUWT and Education Support, the former teacher and wellbeing expert suggests that schools are at a tipping point and wellbeing needs to be prioritised now more than ever.

86 per cent of teachers say their job has adversely impacted their mental health in the last 12 months (NASUWT, 2024) and 77 per cent of staff show symptoms of poor mental health (Education Support 2024).

“With schools facing the funding crisis, rising expectations and unprecedented pupil needs, teachers and senior leaders are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Whilst this often leads to our eye being taken off the ball in terms of wellbeing, this is exactly the time when looking after our mental health is so important,” says Charlie Burley, The Teachers’ Health Coach.

Token gestures such as annual wellbeing days, yoga sessions and staff treats don’t go far enough the whitepaper suggests. Instead, a ‘human-first approach’ is proposed, based on psychology, biology and social science expertise, that focuses on appreciating basic human needs and developing a school-wide culture of being well.

“The best schools are those that not only reduce workload and cut unnecessary admin, but also those that invest in trust and connection and put wellbeing at the heart of their culture – for the benefit of staff and the children,” adds Charlie.

The ‘Rewriting Wellbeing’ whitepaper also outlines how poor staff wellbeing not only impacts on pupil outcomes, but also on stretched financial budgets, due to increased staff absences and turnover. For a school of 60 teachers, the direct salary loss from absence equates to £47,000 annually based on average teacher pay. A typical turnover of 6–7 teachers per school per year also equates to an estimated average of £68,000 per school annually in recruitment and retraining costs (University of Oxford, 2023).

Data shows that the biggest driver of stress for staff is workload, with 60 per cent describing it as “unmanageable” (NASUWT, 2024). The whitepaper suggests that changes to daily practices could play a significant part in improving the situation by removing workload at its root and automating the tasks that take up teachers’ evenings and weekends.

“Now is the time for bold change,” says Greg Adam, Managing Director of LbQ. “The way forward doesn’t need to lie in doing more – it’s about doing things differently. Being more efficient and effective will enable us to reimagine education and ensure wellbeing is central to culture within all schools.”

To learn more on ‘Rewriting Wellbeing’ and find out about real-life cases studies of schools that have successfully applied the approach, visit www.LbQ.org/teacherwellbeingpaper