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10 ways to support staff wellbeing and work-life balance

Find out how other schools are reducing workload and improving work-life balance for their staff. Use their ideas to retain great people, save on recruitment and make your school a happier place.

Last reviewed on 19 December 2022
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 31427
Contents
  1. 1. Ask for staff opinions
  2. 2. Consult with staff and union representatives
  3. 3. Give teachers and leaders extra PPA time and let them plan together
  4. 4. Create a positive working environment and culture of collaboration
  5. 5. Be clear on scheduling and the purpose of meetings
  6. 6. Focus on ‘meaningful' marking, planning and report writing
  7. 7. Value staff and allow days off for once-in-a-lifetime events
  8. 8. Offer CPD and social activities
  9. 9. Provide flu jabs and offer twilight training
  10. 10. Distribute school improvement workload evenly between all staff

1. Ask for staff opinions

  • Ask your staff members’ opinions on issues that affect their health and wellbeing, such as workload, and how much work they're doing outside of working hours
  • Consult staff about what would make a positive difference to their workload and wellbeing: is it changing the marking policy, or using the school budget for weekly yoga classes?
  • Depending on what comes up most often in staff responses, make changes where possible. We've suggested some changes below, but take on board staff suggestions first
  • Send out a survey at the start of the school year, and another at the end of the year, and compare the results. Use our staff survey pack to create your survey: it includes a statement bank covering a range of topics, a survey template and a letter to staff

This approach was shared with us by Byron Court Primary School in Brent.

Give staff a framework

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