Support for Senior Leaders

Mental health support is available, so why don't school leaders get it?

Education Support is a UK charity, dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of teachers and education staff in schools, colleges and universities. They offer advice and guidance to all teachers, 84% of whom are stressed or very stressed, according to a 2020 Teacher Wellbeing Index report. This is done via immediate, confidential support including advice, counselling or coaching.

It's not just classroom teachers who are struggling - principals and deputy head teachers are feeling the burden of having to run a school in a very uncertain time. However, this group of teachers is reticent to reach out for support.

Fortunately, Education Support as part of their wellbeing services, offer help and support for senior staff. This article will show you what they provide and how to apply.

What can Education Support offer?

There are two ways that senior leaders can access support:

Online facilitated peer support

Peer support groups will provide a space where you will be able to reflect on the issues you have faced during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as any ongoing challenges you continue to face. The sessions will support you in building protective resilience in a safe and supportive space. You will participate in six 90-minute sessions in a group of six or seven school leaders. Your sessions will be run by a professional facilitator, who is a trained coach with experience of working within the education sector.

Individual telephone support

When you access the individual telephone support an accredited counsellor will help you to reflect on, and process any difficult feelings that arise for you in relation to either life or work events. This is a safe and confidential space. You will receive six free one-to-one sessions by telephone.

84% of senior leaders are stressed 54% of senior leaders always go into work when unwell (Education Support 2021)

Headteachers/Deputy heads/ MAT CEOs/ MAT Deputy CEOs in England:

  • This service is for headteachers, deputy head teachers, MAT CEOs and MAT Deputy CEOs based in state funded primary or secondary schools, who do not have current access to counselling free at the point of use e.g. via an EAP.
  • You must be able to attend six sessions of either online facilitated peer to peer support or individual telephone support.
  • This service is funded by the Department for Education.

Headteachers/Deputy/Assistant heads in Wales:

  • This service is for headteachers, deputy headteachers or assistant heads working in maintained schools in Wales.
  • You must be able to attend six sessions of either online facilitated peer to peer support or individual telephone support.
  • This service is funded by Welsh Government.

Applying for support

Education Support will look over your application to ensure you are eligible (a head or deputy; based in England or a head, deputy or assistant head in Wales). They will then process your application and a member of the team will be in touch to explain what will happen next. This will typically involve a short wait while you are allocated into a peer group and put in touch with the facilitator, or await a call from the individual support team.

Who will support me?

If you are taking part in peer to peer support, you will be contacted by qualified Associate Facilitators who will speak to you about the process before confirming the first meeting date. This will be the same person who will facilitate your peer group for the six sessions. If you are taking part in individual support, you will be contacted by a member of the Education Support team who will explain the process and arrange your sessions at a convenient time for you. You will speak to the same person during each session.

All these services are completely free of charge and are provided with funding by the Department for Education and Welsh Government.

Statistics

A 2021 Education Support survey of over 3000 school staff revealed that:

77% experienced symptoms of poor mental health due to their work

72% are stressed (rising to 84% for senior leaders)

46% always go into work when unwell (rising to 54% for senior leaders)

42% think their organisation’s culture has a negative impact on their wellbeing

54% have considered leaving the sector in the past two years due to pressures on their mental health

18% of senior leaders cite relationships with their headteacher as a source of stress

4% of senior leaders cite relationships with governors as a source of stress

Handsam resources

Handsam have a range of useful resources regarding school productions, including: