Teachers invited to join free online discussion on workloads and wellbeing

Educators are invited submit their burning questions on workload pressures and wellbeing to the national Now and Beyond mental health festival for schools and colleges.

The festival, which takes place on 8 February during Children’s Mental Health Week, features a special online session where an education and mental health expert from the Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families will respond in depth to pre-submitted questions.

Last year a similar session attracted over 600 attendees, and this year, due to ever increasing pressures, festival organisers are expecting even more sign ups.

Louisa Rose, founder, Now and Beyond Festival and CEO of the charity Beyond, said: “The pressures faced by teachers are continuing to spiral. In addition to already difficult workload challenges, we’ve recently seen reports of increased instances of poor mental health among children and young people and, with CAMHS at breaking point, teachers are often left to deal with these issues. It’s therefore unsurprising that we are hearing from so many teachers who are, sadly, at breaking point. If we truly value our children’s education, we need to radically improve support for our teachers.” 

According to the Guardian, a 2016 strike by the National Union of Teachers in response to workload pressures saw an estimated 7,000 state schools close.

Louisa added: “Teacher and school staff wellbeing has long been a significant problem in the UK. We don’t have all the answers and, clearly, we can’t singlehandedly solve the problem, but we hope that in uniting a community that already exists and closing the gap for educators we can start to at least ease the pressure a little.”

The session will be facilitated by Now and Beyond’s Education Insider, Alice Moore, who is also a mental health lead and education consultant. Alice will pose pre-submitted questions to Monisha Jefcut – Anna Freud Centre’s Training Manager for the Schools Team and a tutor in the Centre’s Senior Mental Health Lead training course. Monisha worked as a teacher for 30 years and was a member of a senior leadership team that specialised in behaviour and safeguarding. She currently managers a team of School Engagement Trainers as well as leading a number of national projects including government initiatives and specialist training packages.

Alice Moore said: “The rising number of children requiring support for their mental health is well documented. This is felt very keenly in schools – as evidenced by the fact we have not had one referral to CAMHS accepted since the pandemic. School staff are therefore called upon to provide this interim support, which is adding to an already challenging workload.

“We opened registrations for our event with the Anna Freud Centre on Monday and received 50 questions in just two days, evidencing the need for much more support in the area of school staff wellbeing. Overwhelmingly, questions are themed around managing workplace pressures, how to support colleagues experiencing burnout and how to avoid working until midnight. 

“It’s clear that we need to redress the balance and prioritise the wellbeing of staff. Only then can they be in a position to support the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils.”

The festival programme

Featuring a wide range of expert-led sessions, webinars and workshop resources, Now and Beyond is completely free to access, and the programme has something for teachers, parents/carers, children and young people alike.

Highlights include a live stream of programmes featuring celebrity guests including TV presenter Emma Willis; rapper and mental health activist, Shocka and TV’s Dr Ranj. The broadcast programme will be hosted by BAFTA award-winning producer, Sallyann Keizer.

For parents and carers, a webinar will address the increasing accountability and responsibility we need to see from Big Tech to protect the minds of young people, and explore how parents and carers can help their kids to enjoy healthy relationships with tech and social media. This powerful session will be hosted by Ian Russell, father of the late Molly Russell who tragically died by suicide almost five years ago after accessing thousands of online images promoting self-harm.

A wide range of workshops will also be available, as well as personal stories from young people with lived experience, and lesson plans for 4-18 year olds, covering everything from mental health first aid to mindfulness, eating disorders, anti-racism and more.

To sign up to the discussion and to submit questions click here.

To sign your school or college up to the wider festival – which is completely free – visit www.nowandbeyond.org.uk