5 Strategies to Develop and Maintain a Wellbeing Culture in Schools

Claire Fuller

by Claire Fuller

Director, Feel Real Ltd.

Wellbeing in schools has become quite a hot topic in recent times.  Wellbeing in the workplace has often been an issue that some agree with and some disagree with, however I am a firm believer in treating your people right and everything else will fall into place.

As Richard Branson says, ‘Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to.  If you look after your staff, they'll look after your customers. It's that simple.’

So what is Wellbeing?  Wikipedia defines it very simply as follows: “The state of being comfortable, healthy or happy.”  I believe that we all wish for a high level of wellbeing for ourselves and for those around us.  And it shouldn’t be that difficult to achieve, in theory, yet it does seem to be difficult at times, especially in teaching where you are often subjected to constant demands all day long.

​Wellbeing is closely linked with self-care – and this is what a lot of teachers (and nurses, doctors, carers, anyone who is giving of themselves for many hours each day) find difficult to do.  One of the main reasons this is so, is a lack of time.

As teachers and caring individuals, you are wired to put the needs of the students above your own needs most of the time.  This is very commendable but also leads to exhaustion and burnout.  It is so important to put into practise the well-known ‘theory’ about looking after yourself before you can effectively look after others.  This is not just a theory; it is based on proven fact.  When you take time for yourself you will be better able to support and take care of others.  I find that most people DO know this, they just seriously struggle to put it into practice (and it is something I used to struggle with too).

 Teachers and other school staff are in constant contact with many other people for almost all of their waking hours.  They are at the mercy of demands from several different angles all at the same time.  This can be exhausting and creates a sense of high alert as to where the next demand may be coming from.  This way of living needs to be balanced out by also being on the receiving end of support and care.  We cannot keep giving successfully, without receiving.

Teachers are so stretched with all the things that MUST be done and self-care seems like an optional activity, which can be left out, in favour of completing all the must-do tasks.  The truth is, time for self-care doesn’t just happen; we have to make time for it.

Here are 5 easy to implement ways to start developing a Wellbeing Culture in your School:

1. Ask questions via surveys – find out what staff feel would improve their Wellbeing, both in the short-term and in the long-term
2. Look at how Wellbeing is taken care of currently and how this relates to the levels of absenteeism and recruitment
3. Explain that you are going to develop a Wellbeing Culture within school and therefore start encouraging staff to treat self-care and wellbeing with the priority that they deserve and make it the norm, rather than the extra-ordinary
4. Encourage staff to share ways in which they are taking good care of themselves
5. Encourage staff to set clear boundaries for themselves when they can fully relax e.g. limit marking and emails to certain hours only and do NOT exceed these – for sanity’s sake

Staff and students benefit from a strong Wellbeing Culture. When we experience a high level of wellbeing, we generally feel well, content, motivated and fulfilled.  We will achieve, adapt and create much more easily and we will feel so much better.  Thus those who we then connect with and teach throughout the day will also feel more content and so progress further.

Wellbeing cannot be a 'tick box' exercise; it does need to be continuously addressed. To this end in some schools have appointed members of staff to take care of this.  Others use external support.

If you would like to discuss staff wellbeing further, do contact me via info@clairefuller.com or 07783 107 236. You can also contact me via my Portal Consultancy page.

I also provide a range of bite-size resources that are highly effective, supportive and easy to use.  They are available online so that affordable support is always available.
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A great Wellbeing Culture is a basic requirement and when successfully in place, everyone will flourish.