Author: Samantha Stokes, HR Business Partner for PACT HR

Published: 4th April 2022

This may not come as a surprise to many, but teacher burnout has been around since the days of chalkboards and is in no way a new phenomenon. However, in a recent study conducted by The University of York, teacher attrition is the worst it has ever been. Research also shows that teachers leave the profession at a much higher rate compared to other occupations.

In 2019 burnout was officially recognised by the World Health Organisation. Mental Health UK describes burnout as a ‘state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can occur when a person experiences long-term stress in their job’, or when they have worked in a physically or emotionally draining role for a protracted length of time.

Prevention

The teaching profession is incredibly important and education plays a significant part in shaping society. So how can we do better and what can schools put in place to support their teachers and prevent burnout? The first step is being able to identify the symptoms and behaviours, either in yourself a colleague or those you manage.

Signs of Burnout:

• Feeling tired or drained most of the time
• Feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated
• Feeling detached/alone in the world
• Having a cynical/negative outlook
• Self-doubt
• Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done
• Feeling overwhelmed

There are several things that SLTs and headteachers can do to prevent burnout:

Reduce Stress Levels

It’s easier said than done as many people won’t come forward and discuss how they are feeling until it’s too late which results in them taking time off work or them leaving the teaching profession altogether. Prolonged exposure to stress can beat a person down and will result in them becoming burnt out. Therefore, it’s a good idea for headteachers and senior leaders to be familiar with the HSE management standards on ways of reducing stress. One of which is giving people a sense of control over their workload and their deadlines, and how they get their work done.

Boundaries

Having boundaries in place and making sure someone isn’t pushed beyond their limits is key. Teachers covered by the School Teachers Pay and Condition Document (STPCD) in England and Wales are contractually required to work for a maximum of 1,265 hours over 195-days in a year. Although statistics show that many teachers will work in excess of 50-hours per week and will often work over a weekend and school holidays. Appropriate planning of the school’s timetabled teaching week and the right level of resources can ensure that teachers are not given unrealistic workloads and can use their weekends and time off to really decompress from work.

Communication

All of us feel stressed and demotivated at times and it’s ok to recognise this and ask for support. Open and honest conversations can really improve a person’s mental health, and tools such as wellbeing plans, and stress risk assessments can be used to help support colleagues. These work in the same way as regular risk assessments, in that they identify risk so you can then work together and explore ways to eliminate or reduce that risk.

How can PACT HR help you?

By working with us, you’ll benefit from our expert HR services in the education sector. Our unlimited, bespoke service is designed to respond to your HR advisory and administration needs. We also run Briefing Sessions throughout the year when there are updates and information, delivering important information relevant to your organisation.

For more info on how we can best support you, please contact the PACT HR helpdesk on 01274 436644 or email us at info@pact-hr.co.uk or more details.