Just one in 10 schools has signed up to a government charter that outlines commitments they should make to 鈥減rotect鈥 the mental health and wellbeing of staff. The Department for Education launched an in November 2021, co-created by unions, teachers and charities, which invited schools to sign up to 11 commitments. These included driving down unnecessary workload, creating a good behaviour culture and giving staff 鈥渁 voice鈥 in decision-making. It also featured commitments for the DfE and Ofsted to meet. Nadhim Zahawi, then education secretary, said staff mental health was 鈥渕ore important than ever鈥 and encouraged all schools 鈥渢o put wellbeing at the centre of everything you do and sign up to the charter鈥. But2,350 schools have made the voluntary pledge 鈥 about 10 per cent of eligible state schools. Sarah Hannafin, a senior policy adviser at school leaders鈥 union NAHT, said the DfE needed to go 鈥渨ay beyond a simple charter鈥 as signing up did not bring any extra resources. 鈥淲e stressed at the time that this needed to be part of a much wider commitment 鈥 to long-term culture change. We have seen little sign of this so far.鈥 With schools doing 鈥渁ll they can鈥, she called for ministers to commit to a 鈥渃omprehensive review into its support for staff wellbeing and a new approach鈥. The DfE said schools should 鈥渟ign up when it is right鈥 for them and when they would get the most benefit. Research will be carried out on those who did commit. Charter helped schools ‘focus’ Balmoral Learning Trust uses the charter across its two schools in Sunderland. Faye Chase, its HR and governance manager, said the trust was doing many of the commitments already, such as supporting staff with professional development and surveying on mental health. Ofsted branded 鈥榙isingenuous鈥 over wellbeing review But the charter gave it national benchmarks to work towards and staff 鈥渃an see that we are taking it seriously鈥. Debbie Duggan, the operational resources director at The Two Counties Trust, said the plan really helped its nine schools 鈥渇ocus鈥 on its wellbeing priorities post-lockdown. It has also introduced a sabbatical policy 鈥 part of the flexible working commitment 鈥 to help with retention. ‘Tick-box’ exercise concerns But some see the charter as a 鈥渢ick-box exercise鈥, says Patrick Ottley-O鈥機onnor, a school wellbeing coach and former executive head.聽 鈥淭he DfE could have provided something more tangible and with accountability. It relies on the headteacher or governing body being absolutely committed to creating a culture.鈥 The DfE and Ofsted have pledged to review the charter鈥檚 progress this year.