The Impact of Culture on Staff Wellbeing

The teaching profession in England is regarded as one of the best education systems in the world and one I am immensely proud to have been a part of for over three decades, yet each year when I read the Teacher Wellbeing Index my heart sinks. The 2023 report states that ‘78% of education staff are experiencing work related stress and increasing loneliness in their workplace’, a figure which is increasing year on year. One must take a step back and look at what the source of the problem is and more importantly, how this can be resolved. 

As a full-time teacher running busy faculties, I often felt dis-empowered to affect change. However, whilst there are many contributory factors at national level that individuals cannot change, there are certainly actions at local level which can make the working lives of those in education settings better. At the heart of this is workplace culture. I’m sure everyone has experienced the difference in a positive organisational culture, and one which is not so good. The impact on our sense of wellbeing is dramatic, despite the ever-present workload! During my own doctoral research into teacher attrition, I discovered that there was no current research or evidence to suggest that reducing workload had any impact on attrition; it was a much more nuanced and complex phenomenon, which put workplace culture into the spotlight.  This is supported by the 2023 Teacher Wellbeing Index statistics, indicates that 55% of education staff feel that their organisational culture has a negative effect on their wellbeing, a 13% increase on last year. Furthermore, 46% of employees reported that they felt unsupported with their mental health and wellbeing issues. 

So, how can schools ensure that their most valued assets are retained, valued and nurtured to enable them to have a long and fulfilling career? Firstly, wellbeing needs to be understood beyond the confines of cake on a Friday. One-off events can be a great way to kick start or raise awareness of staff wellbeing but to truly make a difference, wellbeing needs to be embedded within the culture. Organisations need to address the factors that lead to stress and burnout whilst at the same time provide resources and support for good wellbeing. Good staff wellbeing can be found in systems that support autonomy, develop strengths, control and foster connection, provide psychological safety and champion recognition.    

In my career, I’ve witnessed the impact of a truly authentic culture of wellbeing and the fallout of the ‘tick box’ strategy…the difference is palpable. I have seen happy, valued staff thrive where their successes are celebrated and their challenges supported. I’ve seen teachers given autonomy to run whole school projects without being micro-managed, and staff enjoying a ‘marking party’ when staff all mark their work in a two-hour slot with coffee and cake provided by the Headteacher. I won’t dwell on the negative experiences but I am sure each one of us can reflect on a time when the culture of wellbeing in an organisation left a lot to be desired.

At Still Human we are dedicated to providing tools and strategies for schools to embrace a ‘new normal’ so that the cultural language is one of flexibility, empowerment and sensitivity. We have drawn on current research, professional expertise and our own experience of mindful practice to create the two-day Wellbeing Champion course which helps school leaders and key stakeholders embed a culture of wellbeing into the fabric of their organisations so that staff stress and burnout is reduced, and attrition abated. Through nine interlinking modules, school leaders are shown ways to move towards a more sustainable culture of wellbeing which not only has a positive impact on pupils’ experiences from their classroom teachers, but one where retention can be improved, which in turn make great financial sense. The Wellbeing Champion course is not only excellent professional development for participants, but a gift to all the staff they will cascade their experience to.

Contact the Still Human team to discuss how we can help improve the culture at your organisation here.

Article by Still Human Wellbeing Facilitator, Dr. Mary Bilton.