Creating Boundaries (leaders)

As a leader it can sometimes feel that the only way to solve the problem of huge volumes of work is by asking teachers to work longer hours, but research consistently shows that this can lead to high stress levels, reduced performance and teacher burnout. This in turn increases sickness levels and staff turnover, which then makes it even harder to maintain staff cover and positive relationships with students.

Teachers in our research had instead learned to create boundaries for the teaching role, both in terms of the time and their feelings.

Leaders can help this by giving teachers support and encouragement to treat teaching as an important job rather than a lifestyle. This may include:

• Helping teachers to create boundaries, including start and finish times, and encouraging teachers to leave on time.
• Role modelling healthier working patterns.
• Encouraging teachers to have time for themselves outside of the working day.
• Taking time to discuss the emotional and cognitive challenges involved in the role as well as the volume of work.
• Recognising, and helping teachers to recognise, the tension between the “perfect lesson” and teachers’ wellbeing.
• Encouraging teachers to make a regular commitment outside of their working life.

But what really matters is what works for the teachers and students at your school – what would help your teachers to create boundaries for their working life?

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