Diary of an headteacher: A New Year’s Challenge

For teachers, the new year brings with it hopes and dreams for the 12 months ahead, along with a refreshed sense of urgency for the impending business end of the academic year.

I haven’t worked at a school where the teachers aren’t “dead on their feet” by the end of the autumn term and in recent years I have really noticed the impact that the increasing pace of schools and heightened accountability have had on staff wellbeing.

As the autumn nights close in and we travel to and from work in darkness, it is important for headteachers to understand the challenges staff face and plan workload demands carefully. I learnt some time ago that it is unwise to overload teachers with significant amounts of work to complete over Christmas – it is important for your staff to enjoy a rest and spend time with their families.