In a concerning new survey, nearly half of school leaders in England reported needing mental health support last year, highlighting the immense toll the job is taking on their wellbeing. The poll, conducted by the school leaders’ union NAHT, found that 72% of respondents said their mental health had worsened over the past year – a significant increase from 65% the previous year.
The survey of 1,517 school leaders paints a bleak picture, with 92% saying their job had affected their sleep, 83% reporting increased stress, and 61% stating it had impacted their physical health. NAHT General Secretary Paul Whiteman described the findings as “extremely worrying” and warned that the poor wellbeing of school leaders should be a “real cause for concern for the government.”
Headteachers play a vital role in shaping the direction of schools and inspiring teachers and students, but the survey suggests many are struggling to deliver at their best when they are “stressed, overworked, and struggling with their mental health.” Whiteman noted that it is “little wonder the profession loses many school leaders within a few years of their appointment, which is a huge waste of talent and experience.”
The union is calling for the government to take concrete steps to support school leaders, such as ensuring they are not contacted during weekends or holidays unless exceptional circumstances arise, and providing universal professional supervision so they have a space to seek support. The survey also found that 87% of leaders said the time they spent supporting teaching staff with mental health issues had increased in the past three years, further exacerbating the pressures they face.
While the proposed measures may help improve leaders’ mental health, Whiteman stressed that more substantial action is needed to “properly mitigate the damaging impact of high-stakes accountability on leaders’ wellbeing.” The union’s legal challenge against Ofsted’s plans for new school report cards was dismissed last year, but the concerns about the potential harm to leaders’ mental health remain.
As the education sector grapples with these mounting challenges, the government must prioritize the wellbeing of school leaders and implement comprehensive support systems to ensure they can effectively lead their schools and nurture the next generation of students.
