1. Developing Effective Wellbeing Strategies for You and Your School
Gary Edwards

2. Aims of this workshop Share evidence from recent PMB research
Gain wider awareness of the importance of staff wellbeing for schools and academies
Develop individual SMART action plans using a coaching model
Understand the key issues and steps in a school-wide wellbeing strategy

3. Recent Studies
67% teachers state that their job has had an adverse impact on their mental health
52% had mental health illness identified by their GP
Leeds Beckett University 2015
82% teachers have experienced significant anxiety directly from their job
38% school leaders have suffered from poor mental health directly related to work
Dr Emma Kell 2018

4. Impact on Pupil Outcomes
8% variation in Primary school SATS results attributable to differences in wellbeing of classroom teacher Birbeck College 2007

5. Impact on Student Wellbeing
A 2016 study by University of British Colombia found strong correlation between teachers reporting high stress and higher levels of stress hormone [cortisol] in their students

7. And a free text box for any other comments
The PMB Research
Four simple questions sent to 50 Kent Heads
What is the single thing you find most stressful/demanding in your role at the moment?
What is the most important thing you do for your own wellbeing/work-life balance?
What is the most important thing you do to support the wellbeing/work-life balance of your staff?
What is the one best thing your governors could do to help you further with your wellbeing/work-life balance?
And a free text box for any other comments

8. People Issues Are More Complex
“I have had occasions whereby I felt out of my depth when staff had a breakdown in front of me regarding challenges that they were facing in their personal life. This includes a member of staff pulling out clumps of their hair in front of me, another member of staff with acute paranoia and someone informing me that they were a victim of child abuse.”

9. People Issues Are More Common
“The sheer volume of all the things I’m responsible for and never having proper time to deal with it as another urgent issue will always crop up, a parental complaint, a child protection issue, someone goes sick … it is all just too much!”
“Just being responsible for 60 + staff and 430 children and all the issues that come with that takes its toll mentally after a while. Constantly juggling health and safety, teaching and learning, recruitment etc … etc”

10. Recommended Actions “My weekends are sacrosanct”
Healthy body = healthy mind
Role model positive workload management
Meetings management
Fully supportive Head – CoG relationship
Informal Headteacher networks
Coaching

11. A Coaching Framework for Action
Issue Goal(s) Reality Options Will do/won’t do
Activity
Working in pairs use this coaching framework to identify an action plan for your own positive wellbeing

12. Now let’s consider a school – wide strategy …

13. Maslach: Professional Burnout
Lack of control
Insufficient reward
Lack of community
Absence of ‘fairness’
Conflict in values
Work overload

14. HSE Definition of Stress
‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other demands placed on them’.

15. Framework for a School Strategy
Commitment in SIP
SMART Goals
Identify a Wellbeing Champion
Cross school working group
Quick wins and longer term initiatives
Monitored by SLT and governing body
Robust communication plan

16. Further PMB Findings Role of SLT to stem the ‘tsunami’ of demands
Mental Health First Aid is crucial
CPD an important part of a wellbeing strategy
Simply saying “thank you” in ways that matter
Mindfulness and meditation are becoming more common as school-wide strategies
Quality of governance and especially the relationship with CoG are critical factors

17. Questions to Consider
What are the key issues in a wellbeing culture at your school? What goals would be appropriate here? What are the potential barriers? How could KAH support you and your school?

18. Final questions and conclusions