ASCL response to UCL-led study on teacher wellbeing

“We’re pleased that teacher wellbeing stayed largely the same during lockdown, though concerned that anybody at all is experiencing very high anxiety at any time. And we are particularly concerned about the fact that many school leaders are clearly under huge strain.

“The fact is that school leaders have had to spin a lot of plates over the past few months, and have hardly drawn breath since March.

“They have needed to maintain provision for key worker and vulnerable children throughout the crisis, while also providing remote learning for everybody else, phasing back in more pupils in the summer term, and then preparing for full reopening in September.

“They have no problem with any of that and have responded to these challenges with great commitment and professionalism.

“What has been harder to swallow has been the government’s chaotic handling of education throughout, and a vast amount of constantly updated guidance, which is in itself a full-time job to follow.

“To make matters worse, they now have the added problem of a test and trace system which is not capable of meeting demand.”