Education Supporter - Spring 2023

Education Supporter

“You helped feed my children when I was struggling”

Welcome and thank you

I don’t know about you, but I am very glad to be seeing the back of what seems to have been a long and challenging winter.

The last time I wrote to you, we were heading into that pretty bleak winter. Our grants team was seeing unprecedented levels of applications for financial assistance – the kind of volume we’ve never seen before.

I’m incredibly proud of the team who pulled out all the stops to respond quickly and efficiently to people who were in urgent need of help. They were only able to respond so positively because your donations ensured that we had sufficient funds to be able to meet those requests. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support prevented some education staff from becoming homeless over those cold winter months.

Towards the end of last year, we also conducted our 6th Teacher Wellbeing Index survey. More details are inside the magazine, so I won’t say too much here. Suffice to say the picture of mental health and wellbeing in the education workforce is not improving year on year. As ever, we do what we can to influence and engage in conversations with the people in power who can address this incredibly important issue, but until things

change at a higher level, we must continue to pick up the pieces.

When I talk to education staff, I continue to be amazed and inspired by the resilience and passion I see. Despite all the obvious challenges, teachers and support staff still believe that their career is a calling and that the learners come first. It’s really very humbling.

As you know, Education Support has been around for more than 140 years now. But we are continually evolving and moving with the times by looking for new and innovative ways to reach education staff throughout the UK who may be in need of our help.

The last thing I want to say once again is ‘Thank you’. Without you, we wouldn’t exist and I shudder to think where education staff would go at their most fragile times if we weren’t here to help. Every single gift we receive is appreciated and I do hope you realise how important you are to us.

I hope you enjoy this latest issue. With best wishes,

The

Sinéad Mc Brearty CEO, Education Support

A stressed and exhausted workforce:

Results of our latest Teacher Wellbeing Index survey

2022 marked the 6th year of our annual Teacher Wellbeing Index survey, As usual, the survey was conducted over the summer via an online survey of education staff drawn from YouGov’s panel. A total of 3,082 education staff answered the survey, from a wide cross-section of roles and settings in the education sector.

Some of the disturbing results are highlighted here. But overall, what we’re seeing is that things are certainly not improving for education staff. Indeed in some areas, the situation is becoming much worse.

The challenges

75% of all staff are stressed (84% of senior leaders, 72% of school teachers)

47% of all staff always go into work when unwell (61% of senior leaders, 45% of school teachers)

42% of all staff consider their organisation’s culture has a negative effect on their wellbeing

59% of all staff are not confident in disclosing unmanageable stress or mental health issues to their employer

48% of all staff feel their organisations do not support employees well who have mental health and wellbeing problems (51% of senior leaders, 48% school teachers)

Mental health of education staff

36% of staff have experienced a mental health issue in the past academic year (39% senior leaders, 37% school teachers)

78% of staff experienced symptoms due to their work (87% senior leaders, 76% school teachers)

44% thought the symptoms could be signs of anxiety –higher than the national figure provided by the ONS (37%).

27% thought the symptoms could be signs of depression – higher than the national figure provided by the ONS (17%).

28% thought the symptoms could be signs of burnout (37% senior leaders, 27% school teachers)

Staff retention

59% of staff have considered leaving the sector in the past academic year due to pressures on their mental health and wellbeing (67% senior leaders, 59% school teachers)

55% of staff have actively sought to change or leave their current jobs (58% senior leaders, 53% school teachers)

68% of staff cited volume of workload as the main reason for thinking about leaving their jobs (83% senior leaders, 66% school teachers)

Sinéad Mc Brearty, our CEO, said “The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2022 presents another year of data on an exhausted workforce, with many scores flat-lining. This cannot go on. We have a duty of care to future generations of children and young people to retain passionate, talented teachers and leaders. Instead, stress and overwork has been normalised in the education sector. This will affect the lives and education of thousands of children and those in the least well-resourced areas will suffer most. This issue must be a priority for everyone who cares about education.”

At Education Support, we feel immense gratitude to those of you who support our work and want to improve this picture. Thank you for donating to us so that we can keep on being there.

If you’d like to read the survey in full, please visit educationsupport.org.uk/wellbeing-index

44.01 Staff wellbeing score, lower than the national population scores for England (52.40), Scotland (48.60) and Wales (48.90)

The lives you’ve changed…

Austin’s story

Austin is the head of St Mary’s Brymbo, a small primary in Wrexham, North Wales. He recently took part in the school leaders’ facilitated peer-to-peer support and describes in his own words how he feels it’s made him a better headteacher:

“The role of headteacher can be quite a lonely one. Not all the time. It depends on your team and the people around you of course. But even if you’ve got that support, it’s your name above the door. You’re the one who carries the can. As I tell my staff - I’m the one who would have to answer questions in court.”

“I found the school leaders’ support service a safe space, not to have a moan but to develop things constructively. I’d compare it to outdoor swimming, which is something I like to do. I’d describe the service as like a tow float. You still enjoy it, enjoy the challenges of it, but that little tow float is something you can pull on, you can lean on it, catch your breath on it, look back to shore and contemplate your day as I do,

then go again. Just looking back, knowing you have that tow float, that’s what the service was for me.”

“Back during the pandemic, everyone was looking to head teachers within the community. My tow float throughout that time was the school leader service. It was a safe space where you could share anxieties, but also get some genuinely good ideas from a wider group of peers with a breadth of experience who you wouldn’t normally come into contact with.”

“Our facilitator, a very experienced headteacher herself, used a very good car-parking sensor analogy. Am I reversing safely or am I an inch from something, at a tipping point? During the early stages of the pandemic, things were coming at you left, right and centre. It was just exhausting. To give yourself an

hour and a half, two hours in the day and to know that that was coming, it was like a little stepping-stone, a refuge.”

“It wasn’t fluffy, it was real, practical advice that you could put into action.”

“What our facilitator said to us about sleep was really enlightening - the importance of proper rest and sleep now and for the future too; the link between sleep and dementia is very strong. Practical, sensible advice that you can connect with being the best you can be in your head teacher role. You’re not sharing with anyone who could interpret what you’re saying as ‘not coping.’ This neutral ground and neutral format is very helpful. There are no judgements, it’s not going anywhere.”

“Quite often you can be in the office on your computer and to reach outside of that world for some help and support is so important. I think it should be

something headteachers are offered on a regular basis. You’re not going to get that really good, professional, counselling advice from elsewhere in your world.”

“For anyone looking at the service, if you don’t think you’ve got a couple of hours to take out once a fortnight to benefit yourself, then you definitely need to do it. We’re all busy. This job never ends. You’re never finished completely. You’ll be better at prioritising, at devolving your leadership, better at communicating what you want and need from others if you take the time to do this, rather than if you just plough on and keep trying to carry on.”

The lives you’ve changed…

Steven’s story

School Intervention Manager Steven experienced domestic violence and financial problems during a very difficult year. Our grants team was able to support with spiralling bills and to provide food for his children, whilst he got back on track.

Steven said: “I work as an Intervention Manager in alternative provision at a school in North Lincolnshire. Sometimes, it’s the best job in the world. Being able to see young people achieve things when they’ve been written-off by everyone is amazing. I love how it keeps me young too.”

“Outside of work my marriage ended a while ago, and I began a new relationship with a woman who said she couldn’t have children. I have two sons and didn’t want any more children so this was fine with me. But not long afterwards, my new partner told me she was pregnant, and that she would no longer be able to work. The bills and debt began to pile up along with the expense, pressure and stress of a new baby arriving. I was on the verge of taking time off work because of the stress. I like to do things by myself, I didn’t want to ask for help.”

“I spoke to my Deputy Head. She suggested I apply to Education Support for a grant to help cover my bills, and I was awarded £300. The grant really helped to get my finances back on an even keel, but unfortunately my new partner became violent towards me and I had to ask her to leave. I had to protect my children. When she left, she took the money that I’d put aside. So I was back to square one and I didn’t know what to do.”

“I needed food for my boys and fuel to drive to work. The bills kept coming and I just couldn’t afford them. When there’s only one of you, even a decent wage doesn’t always cover everything. I wrote to Education Support again and explained the position I was in. They told me they wanted to help and gave me a gift in kind for food for £350.”

“It was just such a huge relief when the grant came through. It got me back on track. I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for the help I got.”

“Previously, I’d stuck my head in the sand. Now, after all of this, I’ve learnt to ask for help. I want my boys to see that it’s alright not to be alright, and it’s ok to ask for help. The kids at school know what I’ve been through too - I think it’s important to talk about these things and to be honest that bad things can happen to anyone. It’s how you deal with things that matters.”

“It’s comforting to know that there is help out there from Education

Support for people like me. For any fellow teachers out there who are struggling, or anyone who thinks that because they’re in a ‘good job’ there’s no help out there for you, I’d say just do it, just get in touch with Education Support. Some people think that if you’re in a ‘good job’ you shouldn’t need help. If you’re proud, don’t worry, it’s all private, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get. The help can make a huge difference.”

If you or anyone you know might need financial assistance, please visit educationsupport.org.uk/grants

Focus on…. Our grants service

For a large part of our history, we have offered financial assistance to teachers, teaching assistants, supply & support staff, lecturers and retired staff.

Since April last year, we have seen a significant increase in demand for our financial grants with more and more education staff finding themselves struggling to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. An alarming number are even being forced to use food banks.

As one of our loyal and valued donors, we thought you’d like to know a bit more about our grants service as you are enabling us to keep this important part of our work going. Even if you’re retired you are still able to apply for a grant should you need our help and meet the criteria.

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible if you or your partner are or have been employed in primary, secondary, further or higher education in one of the following roles;

• Teacher

• Teaching Assistant

• Deputy/Headteacher

• NQT

• SEN

• Lecturer

• Supply Teacher

• Retired Teacher

• Learning Support

• Academic Administration

• Academic Manager

When we can help

Education Support can help if there has been a significant change in your circumstances such as:

• A sudden or unexpected loss of income

• A sudden or unexpected illness, injury or bereavement

• You are unable to meet the cost of travelling to work

• A sudden or unexpected change in living circumstances or loss of home

• A relationship breakdown

• An issue of domestic abuse

We may be able to assist with:

• Essential expenses

• Essential household items

• Moving costs

• Health improvement aids and adaptations

• Housing costs

• Travel expenses to work

• Essential household repairs

• Car repairs

• Funeral costs

• Bankruptcy and Debt Relief Order (DRO) application fee

• Council Tax costs

• Utility bills

Our friendly and experienced grants team is here to help and advise without judgement, to help you manage short-term money worries.

If you or anyone you know might need financial assistant, please visit educationsupport.org.uk/grants for further information or to apply.

Small circle, big heart Your voice

We are honoured that former teacher & poetry-writer Shuaib Khan has chosen to support us by donating some of the proceeds of his book to Education Support. He tells us in his own words about his teaching career and how poetry has changed his life.

“My name is Shuaib Khan and I was born and raised in Cambridgeshire. I went to my local comprehensive school and would describe myself as a ‘late developer.’ It was only when I was in sixth form that I began to take the idea of becoming a teacher seriously. I suppose this was a time when I was beginning to develop a deeper understanding of the world and reflecting on my own school experience.”

“I was really inspired by one of my sixth form teachers. He was caring, driven, always believed in second chances and gave me self-belief. After many conversations with him, I realised the social justice element of teaching. The fact that our education system, despite its flaws, gave me many incredible opportunities, I simply wanted to be the teacher I was inspired by.”

“I have taught mainly at secondary

and across all year groups during my seven years as a teacher. Before this, during my degree, I volunteered at my local secondary school for several years and completed an entire year as a supply teacher prior to my PGCE.”

“The year on supply was incredible. It was challenging but also gave me a real flavour of what teaching is all about. I did supply in over 20 different schools, both primary and secondary, as well as in pupil referral units and alternative provision. If this experience wasn’t going to deter me from becoming a teacher, nothing else would!”

“I enjoyed working with young people. They were my sole focus and priority. I made my lessons all about my pupils, their needs and their progress. I loved developing relationships with my students and watching them grow. “

“Til this day, nothing compares to the feeling of welcoming pupils into the classroom and empowering them with the skills and knowledge they need to get on in life. It is a truly magical feeling.”

“I didn’t enjoy the workload and expectations. If you strip it all away, teaching itself is the best job in the world. It is all the additional red tape and box-ticking that adds to our growing to-do list. I once remember having half a day of PPA time and didn’t spend a second of it doing any planning, preparation and assessment.”

“Workload has always been a problem but I think there is an acceptance across the profession that we are overworked and many of us burn out. I do believe there

needs to be a realignment in terms of our focus.”

“The two questions that I always asked myself before I began any task were:

1. How does it impact on staff wellbeing?

2. What effect will it have on pupil progress?”

“In 2019, I was burnt out. I had to take some time away from the profession for personal reasons. I initially came across Education Support through social media but wasn’t sure if I should reach out. After reading some testimonies, I made a phone call.”

“I was met with compassion and warmth from the very first moment. There was advice available on

a number of different things including mental health and legal guidance. I felt empowered following this conversation and later that year, I returned to work.”

“Education Support helped rekindle my love for teaching at a time when I was at my lowest.”

“One thing I love about the charity is that they don’t gloss over the issues facing education staff. For example, the annual Teacher Wellbeing Index is a powerful way to get educators and policymakers to focus on what truly matters.”

“When I made contact with them, I was signposted to various organisations that could offer me the bespoke support that I needed. No topic was ever off the table and I loved how I could pick the phone up at any time and someone who understood my circumstances would listen.”

“I have always loved poetry. As far back as primary school when I would read Michael Rosen, I loved the power of words.”

“I remember having a scrapbook full of thoughts, quotes and poems when I was a teen. From long commutes to university and back, to a PPA in the staffroom, to whenever I have 5 minutes to myself, you would rarely see me without a pen in my hand. I suppose I developed an

insatiable desire to make sense of the world around me.”

“In March 2022, my little brother was diagnosed with Leukemia. Kasim and I always talked about publishing a book and I wanted to stay true to our promise. So, on what would have been his birthday – August 28th, I published my debut anthology collection to commemorate the life and legacy of Kasim.”

classroom and I use writing as a point of reflection. Ultimately, it is an outlet.”

“For the past 12 years education has been through the most difficult period in terms of cuts and shrinking budgets. Making a small donation could help just one teacher get the support they need, or a be vital life for a colleague who is going through a difficult time.”

“Ultimately, I just want to give back to the profession and sector that took a free-school meals EAL child like myself off the streets and gave him the opportunity to prosper. This is my small way of giving back to the teaching community at a time when burnout, stress, and anxiety are rife.”

in education. To help commemorate them, the royalties from my book will be donated to charities closest to my heart – Education Support and Blood Cancer UK.”

“I would urge anyone that is struggling to turn to Education Support. Their dedicated team is committed to helping educators.”

“Poetry is my escape from day-today life. I always found that when I am writing, I am trying to articulate my experiences from that day. It is my therapy. Being a reflective practitioner extends beyond the

“The book is dedicated to my two heroes - my Grandpa and little brother, Kasim, they were both what I refer to as ‘hidden heroes’ during my teaching career. Hidden heroes are our loved ones who allow us to complete the duties of our roles as a teacher. They are selfless in everything they do. Whether it’s attending family functions on our behalf, getting a meal ready after we’ve returned home from work, to running errands throughout the day which include anything from childcare, to school runs, to caring for parents. There are hidden heroes

“Please support the cause by purchasing a copy of my book Small Circle, Big Heart, in the knowledge that you will be changing lives. My book is about the transformative power of love and loss, amongst many other things. I hope that it gives you the liberation it has given me.”

Small Circle, Big Heart is available to buy on Amazon

The lives you’ve changed…

Emma’s story

Around Christmas last year, primary teacher Emma wasn’t in a good place. She’d had Covid and come through the illness itself, but was due to go back to school and felt she wasn’t ready. She also felt really guilty about taking time off. Fortunately she called our helpline. Here she tells her own story:

“Usually I’m able to find ways to deal with problems, but I didn’t want to talk to work or my family about how I was feeling and I knew I wasn’t in a very good place.”

“I provide cover for classes in all years at my primary school, so it’s an issue when I’m not there. I knew I wasn’t ready to go back physically or mentally and was signed off by my GP, but I felt extremely guilty telling my Head.”

“My headteacher has always been really good at giving the Education Support helpline number out, there have always been posters around my school.”

“I wasn’t in a very good place and I knew I needed to speak to someone there and then.”

“I called the helpline and spoke to someone straight away.”

“Immediately they were very reassuring about how I was feeling, They asked questions that helped me feel I wasn’t being silly, that my anxiety was normal. My family may have said the same but I would expect them to say that. Speaking to a trained professional and hearing them say that was different and it really helped validate my feelings.”

“They made me understand that yes, I had been through something traumatic and I wasn’t ready to go back to work. I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. I had walked to the supermarket and had to lie down for 5 hours when I got home. I had also had Covid through the Christmas holidays and so hadn’t been able to see my family as I would have done normally, or had any time to recuperate. I was seeing

“They asked questions that helped me feel I wasn’t being silly, that my anxiety and how I was feeling was normal.”

headlines about schools looking at extending their days and that was not helpful either. It added to my anxiety when I was so exhausted.”

“I would say to anyone – use the helpline as it’s free therapy and you don’t have to wait for it. Not just that, but it’s especially for those of us working in education. I could tell immediately that the person I spoke to understood what the job entails. They are professionals who

understand teaching and they are impartial. You can call in your own time and just chat to someone who understands and it really does help.”

Our helpline is available 24/7 and is free and confidential. Please call us if you want to talk – 0800 562 561

Leave a legacy of learning

There is a powerful way that you can help pupils and teachers for years to come. With a gift in your will to Education Support, you could shape the future of education. Susan Hector explains here the reason she has chosen to leave this special gift to Education Support.

Dear Friend,

My name is Susan Hector and I am a retired teacher. I taught for 15 years in a comprehensive school and then became a lecturer in a Further Education college. The work was hugely rewarding but it was demanding too. Like every teacher, I never really got much time to myself and I was always thinking about my classes and how to improve them.

Early on in my career, I felt that the work was getting on top of me and I felt particularly stressed. But there was no one I could talk to and I was left to work things out on my own. If I had known about Education Support it would have made such a difference to me. That’s why I decided to leave a gift in my will towards their work. I want to make sure that when teachers like me are stressed or having difficulties, they can call on support to help them keep going.

If, like me, you are passionate about education and the future of learning for

teachers and children, I would urge you to make the same decision and leave a gift too. You could help to shape the future of education for everyone. That’s quite a gift to leave! Education Support makes a huge difference for teachers when they really need it. You can talk to them in confidence, without any of your concerns being passed on to other teachers. At the same time, as they have been teachers themselves, they really understand what you are going through.

That psychological support is priceless. Just having that safety net there is so reassuring. Thanks to Education Support, you know you can pick up the phone and talk in confidence to someone who understands.

When things became too much for me, I actually left the profession for a couple of years, and I know that a number of teachers leave early on in their careers. Your gift could give them the reassurance and the confidence to stick it out for a little longer, so they can build up their skills and make the

most of a hugely rewarding vocation.

Of course, the financial support that Education Support offers is hugely valuable too, especially right now with the cost-of-living crisis. It is particularly hard for teachers, as you have to be smart and look the part, but it all costs money.

You could help teachers of the future know they can always get the support they need by choosing to leave a legacy of learning, just like I did. Please do give it some thought.

Best wishes,

Susan

If you would like any information about how you can leave a legacy of learning, please get in touch with us at fundraising@edsupport.org.uk or visit educationsupport.org.uk/Wills

Taking care of your own wellbeing often means finding a helpful diversion and having a bit of fun. Which is why we always include a quiz for you. Good luck!

Break-time

1. In which part of your body would you find the cruciate ligament?

2. What is the name of the main antagonist in the Shakespeare play Othello?

3. What element is denoted by the chemical symbol Sn in the periodic table?

4. How many of Henry VIII’s wives were called Catherine?

5. What was the most popular girl’s name in the UK in 2021?

6. What is the name of the 1976 film about the Watergate scandal, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman?

7. Which comedian was the second permanent host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks after Mark Lamarr?

8. Which popular video game franchise has released games with the subtitles World At War and Black Ops?

9. In what US State is the city Nashville?

10. Which rock band was founded by Trent Reznor in 1988?

11. What is the currency of Denmark?

12. Which Tennis Grand Slam is played on a clay surface?

13. In which European country would you find the Rijksmuseum?

14. How many films have Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared in together?

15. What was the old name for a Snickers bar before it changed in 1990?

£25 could help fund a place to sleep

An increasing number of education staff apply for a grant because they’re facing the threat of losing their home. Some even spend nights sleeping in a car. Your donation could make sure they have a bed for the night.

£50 could help someone at risk of suicide

Across our counselling services, we talk to seven people every day who are assessed to be at risk of suicide. Your donation could make sure we’re there to answer those desperate calls. Your donation could make sure we’re there to answer those desperate calls.

£150 could provide household essentials

Many teachers or people working in education come to us when they can’t afford to replace or fix essential items in the home during times of financial struggle. Your gift could replace a vital kitchen appliance or even a bed to make life easier for them and their family.

I would like to make a gift of:

£25 £50 £150 Other £ Please debit my Visa Mastercard Card number Expiry date / Or I enclose a cheque/postal order/CAF voucher made payable to Education Support

If you prefer, you can call the fundraising team to donate by credit or debit card on 020 7697 2750 or visit educationsupport.org.uk/donate

Please complete in CAPS:

Name

Supporter number

Address

Let us know how you did or make a suggestion for the next issue by emailing us at magazine@edsupport.org.uk

(this can be found at the top of your covering letter)

Make your gift worth 25% more

If you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim an additional 25p from each £1 you donate from HMRC. All you need to do is tick the box, sign and date below.

I confirm that I am a UK taxpayer and would like this donation, any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Education Support to be treated as Gift Aid donations.

We will stay in touch to keep you up to date with information about the work your support is making possible, our news, impact, events, fundraising appeals and other ways you can get involved.

You are in control of how we communicate with you, and if you’d like to change what you receive, how you receive it, or stop all communications please tell us. You can change your preferences by emailing us on fundraising@edsupport.org.uk or calling 020 7697 2750.

I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year, it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

Signature:

Date: /

We know you already support us. But if you’d like to and feel able to send a gift, thank you so much. We promise to put it to good use as always