Governors concerned about school staff mental health

In new findings released by GovernorHub, school governors and trustees in England expressed concerns about the mental health and workload of those working in their schools.

The survey of more than 4,000 governors and trustees found that more than half (57%) are concerned about the mental health of their headteacher or CEO, and seven in ten (71%) are concerned about the mental health of school staff, including support staff

On the issue of workload, a worrying 70% of governors and trustees responding to the survey said that they’re concerned about the workload of their headteacher or CEO, and 75% reported being concerned about the workload of all school staff.

Many governors and trustees are tracking workload and wellbeing, and the findings reveal that such monitoring has increased in the pandemic period. Eight in 10 (81%) of those surveyed said that their board is tracking the workload and related mental health of the headteacher or CEO, while 86% said their board is tracking the workload and related mental health of all school staff.  More than half (58%) of respondents reported that their board has increased its tracking of these issues for headteachers and CEOs since pre-pandemic days, and a similar proportion (60%) has increased such tracking of staff welfare.

One respondent told GovernorHub, “I believe the majority of people involved with governance are seriously concerned about the pressures and impact of COVID-19 and all areas of school life - from the children to the staff, and especially the senior leaders of the school.”

Another reported, “The pressure on leadership teams and school staff has been immense in the last two years. They have received scant recognition, support or acknowledgement. I fear that there will be many people leaving the profession and know of many who already have.”

While boards are clearly worried about the workload and wellbeing of the most senior leaders in their schools, only 12% of those surveyed do not expect their headteacher or CEO to still be in post in two years’ time. And only one-quarter (26%) said their board has a succession plan in place for these roles – suggesting that this topic is not a regular feature in board discussions currently.

“Governors and trustees have had to walk a fine line between fulfilling their role of holding leaders to account and making sure that they themselves don’t add to the high levels of stress and workload,” said GovernorHub founder, Neil Collins. “Add to that the challenges of staff shortages and learning gaps due to the pandemic, and you can see why our governance volunteers have had to handle their role extra sensitively to support leaders facing so many disruptions beyond their control.”

Some respondents also said that workload and stress for governing boards is an issue, with one commenting “Governance has become more challenging than ever - workload and accountability have increased and boards generally need far more support and training. It may be too much to ask of volunteers; although it is still extremely rewarding.”

Despite the challenges, governors and trustees reported feeling positive about the role and the part they play, with an overwhelming majority (89%) saying they would recommend being a governor to other people.

In follow-up to the findings, GovernorHub is hosting a webinar on Monday 7 March with Vic Goddard, co-principal of Passmores Academy, to discuss the issues raised and provide advice to governors and trustees on the practical support they can offer leaders in these challenging times.