How to run a working group to improve staff wellbeing: case study

Hardenhuish School's wellbeing and workload working group comes together to discuss practical solutions to discrete workload burdens, and implement new initiatives based on best practice. Hear how Jo Glossop, the school's assistant head, set it up and how you can too.

Last reviewed on 8 February 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 41944
Contents
  1. In a nutshell
  2. A working group will help you get regular, honest feedback from staff
  3. Recruit a diverse range of people to form your group
  4. To start, build up your knowledge of best practice
  5. Encourage open conversation about the issues staff are dealing with
  6. Lots of ideas? Stay focused on solutions that will work for your school
  7. Communicate your progress to show that you're 'walking the talk'
  8. Starting a group is just one piece of the puzzle - what you can do next

In a nutshell

Hardenhuish School in Wiltshire started a staff working group to improve the wellbeing of all staff across the school, with a particular focus on workload. Set up 3 years ago, group members: 

  • Meet up once a term to have open conversations about wellbeing and workload
  • Identify challenges from across the school 
  • Come up with effective solutions based on best practice

A member of the senior leadership team (SLT) runs the group - meeting outcomes are discussed at senior leadership level and the next steps are then communicated at the next working group meeting. 

A working group will help you get regular, honest feedback from staff

As Rachel Cobb, KS5 maths lead at Hardenhuish, put it: "I feel that our thoughts and opinions are taken seriously and that issues we raise are

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