Question/ quick survey

[Piggywaspushed]

Mumsnet is always the source of finding such stuff out, so this week's query...

How many of your schools have a staff wellbeing policy? (whether applied or not!)

Is there anything your school does actively to address or support the wellbeing of staff? How does your school know how staff feel?

I see from MN that there are so many miserable teachers trudging on/ powering through, or giving up . Lots of lip service paid to wellbeing but very little action from SLT/ government .

The school I am a governor at has an excellent policy to be fair. And very supportive governors who looked at the impact of the wording and policies very carefully .

Not the case in the school I work at.

Yes we have a policy. Regular praise from SLT ( actually a standing item on SLT agenda to ensure that staff are recognised each a week for what they do). Also a staff well-being week is planned for later in the term. Nothing fancy, just no after school meetings that week, plus a few treats thrown in like drinks in the staffroom after school, organised sports activities, ice creams, breakfast for the staff.

We used to have wellbeing time once every three weeks or so - activities run by volunteer staff to help staff de-stress (running, art, meditation etc). I really enjoyed it but it was a battle to get other staff to participate and got lost by the wayside. Otherwise we don't have after school meetings or training on weeks where there is a parents evening, but that's it. Staff morale is in the toilet and people are leaving in droves.

Oh I was getting excited until you got to the food Minnie. I am bored at being made to go in early for breakfast and having pains au chocolat forced on me when I hate breakfast and don't like eating in public. That bit may just be me...

But I do think the food thing is a sop. There are bigger things that need addressing. But, otherwise, your school sounds great!

There is. We made it pretty clear from the start that croissants were not going to make a difference. Surprisingly enough the powers that be seem to have listened and staff bullying and workload are being tackled. It’s a miracle.

Wow, goodness. That's a good thing indeed.

I am bored at being made to go in early for breakfast and having pains au chocolat forced on me

I’ll eat them then, I’d love to have the opportunity to get bored of free pain au chocolat.
My school doesn’t do free breakfast. We sometimes (rarely) have cakes in the staffroom at breaktime, but tbh I think the staff would appreciate a few meetings being sacked off instead.

The croissants aren't instead of a meeting. Our briefing starts 30 minutes earlier and we are expected to go and eat.

Then every so often cakes and croissants are shoved at us at other meetings. It loses its shine once this is a response from management every time they know our workload has increased.

What I would like most is a recognition that some departments' workloads are higher than others at crucial points (due to leadership decisions) and therefore to be protected from other things in return.

Think I read your post wrong noble ...

SLT could jog on if they expected me to get to school 30 minutes earlier!

Yes,; I don't do it . Rebel me.

Its actually just got better, there's a plan for every member of SLT to cover the 30 min tutor time in the middle of the day (1 year group each day) so that each day one year team can socialise in the staff room, get an extended lunch break or just get a break(!) Before going on duty. Reception will also be covered so admin staff can join in.
The food thing isnt compulsory at my school, just a nice extra. I can see it missing the mark if everyone is forced to come in early or stay late if they dont want to.

God Minnie everyone will be wanting to know where you work!!

We don't have enough SLT to do that so I couldn't suggest it. They'd tell me to have a word with myself if I did.

@MinnieSquidge secondary or primary? I'm jealous.
We even have staff meetings on the last day of term if it falls on staff meetings day
I'd love ours to address the workload issue.

Did you see the primary school that wanted to shut at 1:15 on a Friday to give teachers a ‘chance to chill’? They had to back down because of parental outrage, which is fair enough, BUT even if the school had shut at 1:15, the teachers were still teaching over the DfE recommended number of hours for KS1 and 2.

We have 1 extra non contact a fortnight than we used to. Weekly praise and acknowledgement. Cakes at the end of half term. Meetings shortened when we've had bad weather. Staff morale isn't amazing but its ok ish. The stress of the new specs and general workload takes the shine off

Over the years I have taken part in a sailing weekend - not that exciting if you know where I live, but still fun. I have organised 'Bake off' competitions for staff in the name of well being ie staff put on stuff for the rest of the staff during directed time. We have done, as a staff some very dodgy kind of drama activities in the name of 'well being'. We have had a Head who bought cakes and buns at every opportunity and the current one is pizzas. great if you are coeliac. However the whole thing is a bolt on that happens occasionally. Staff who are struggling with depression, anxiety etc do not get the support they deserve. I had to advise a colleague today to get a referral to an OHT, the school have not suggested it, well I suppose it might cost.

Im secondary, which helps with the numbers of SLT. It does seem that more needs to be done, just a shame that budgets are so tight and that wellbeing doesnt feature on the priorities lists of many schools

I am secondary too Minnie but we have 14 form groups per year!

I am hopeful wellbeing will creep up school priorities : it does seem to be as Ofsted are talking about it, and so are the government. It may be lip service but even something small Ofsted sty can be picked up on by schools.

I'd be willing to bet in lots of schools , though, that in order to show they are tackling workload and wellbeing, they increase workload and affect wellbeing!

Staff morale in our place is at an all time low, I'd say. They shove cake at us sometimes and tell us we're great occasionally. Unfortunately, neither of those things address the day to day problems, so don't make anything better.

I would say it's at an all time low in my place, too. SLT do not agree. But they wouldn't know as they legendarily declined to do a staff survey when Ofted hoved into view.

We have a policy, and a budget....the budget paid for a set of scales for the staff room (because the head dislikes fat people) and a weekend in a hotel (well being conference) for the deputy head.

The school I teach at has a annual consultation with teachers on workload. One of our staff meetings is dedicated to it. We come away feeling that we have been listened to and it does have a positive impact on workload as a result.

A set of scales????!!!??

Good Grief.

Scales?! That’s the opposite of croissants!

I just can’t even fathom the thought process behind that being a wellbeing initiative.

I quite often can't fathom the thought processes of our SMT though, they're actually nice people but I have so many WHY???? moments!