School staff have reported an increase in disruptive behaviour and abuse from pupils and their families, while leader stress remains “chronic and acute” despite improvements in workplace culture. The charity has released its annual teacher wellbeing index. Sin茅ad Mc Brearty Although it reported that the overall wellbeing score of teachers and leaders had improved slightly, chief executive Sin茅ad Mc Brearty warned “disturbingly high rates of stress, anxiety, and burnout continue to affect education staff, exacerbated by pupil and parent behaviour, and a lack of support outside school for children and young people”. “The impact on teachers鈥 mental health is significant, and partly explains why so many are leaving the profession. These issues point to societal challenges beyond education that require deep thinking and creativity to address.” 1. More disruption and abuse from pupils鈥 Fifty-seven per cent of staff felt pupils had become more disruptive, while 63 per cent said they had experienced more incidents of challenging behaviour. Fifty-one per cent said pupils had become more verbally abusive, while 29 per cent said they were more physically abusive. Eighty-two per cent of those who reported increases in challenging behaviour said their mental health and wellbeing had been negatively affected. Education Support said staff 鈥渂elieve poor pupil or student behaviour is driven by their unmet needs鈥. Eighty-four per cent of those who believe verbal and physical abuse has increased 鈥渂elieve that poor behaviour arises due to lack of provision for their unmet needs (basic physical needs, emotional needs or mental health鈥. 2. 鈥nd parents Fifty-six per cent of leaders and 40 per cent of teachers said vexatious complaints from parents and guardians had increased. Thirty-three per cent reported that parents were more verbally abusive, while 6 per cent said they had become more physically abusive. Seventy per cent of those who reported more challenging parental behaviour said it had an impact on their mental health and wellbeing. 3. Stress levels still very high The proportion of teachers teachers reporting being stressed remained at 78 per cent, the same as last year. And although the proportion of leaders reporting this fell from 89 to 84 per cent, Education Support warned leader stress was 鈥渂oth a chronic and an acute problem鈥. 鈥淭he data from leaders is deeply troubling: they are not ok. They are most likely to work unsustainably long hours, be unable to switch off, and experience symptoms of burnout.鈥 4. Some reduction in mental health issues… There was a drop from 39 to 35 per cent in staff reporting they had experienced a mental health issue in the past academic year, but the proportion reporting symptoms of burnout and depression remained the same at 35 per cent and 28 per cent. Overall, Education Support said the wellbeing score of school staff was 43.9, up from 43.65 last year, but far below the England average of 51.4. Education Support said it was 鈥減leased to see a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of the workforce that has experienced a mental health issue in the past academic year鈥. 5. …but levels ‘continue to be unacceptable’ However, 77 per cent of the workforce still reports physical, psychological or behavioural symptoms due to their work The reported levels of anxiety, depression, stress and burnout 鈥渃ontinue to be unacceptable鈥. Over a third of the workforce scores below 40 on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. 鈥淭his means their mental health may be a cause for serious concern.鈥 Education Support said we 鈥渕ay have become used to seeing these data every year, but familiarity must not become complacency. The extent of pressure on the health of the workforce is not safe, sustainable, or serving our children and young people.鈥 6. Workplace culture getting more positive The 鈥渂est news in this year鈥檚 report comes directly from school and college workplaces鈥. The proportion of staff who said they considered their organisation鈥檚 culture had a negative effect on their wellbeing fell from 55 to 50 per cent. And 27 per cent of staff now experience the culture of their organisation as 鈥減ositive for their wellbeing鈥, up from 22 per cent last year. And the proportion of staff reporting their organisations did not support employees who have mental health and wellbeing problems well fell from 46 to 38 per cent. This year鈥檚 data 鈥渕akes clear that appreciative, supportive cultures and good staff relationships really matter to teaching and support staff鈥. 7. 鈥楲ittle or no support鈥 from public bodies This year, Education Support also asked about support for pupils from public bodies, such as mental health support services, social services and the NHS. Twenty-six per cent of respondents said they felt public bodies could offer considerable or some support for pupils, while 69 per cent said they received 鈥渓ittle or no support鈥. 鈥淭his is not just about the negative impact on staff morale, 85 per cent of those who feel under-supported by wider public services feel that this lack of support has a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils and students.鈥 Recommendations Continue to transform schools as workplaces to improve staff experience Prioritise staff retention through a 鈥渉olistic鈥 strategy and set a target to sit alongside existing recruitment target Urgently properly fund provision for SEND, children鈥檚 mental health, social services and poverty reduction programmes Prioritise the provision of targeted, high quality support to leaders Renew the 鈥渟ocial contract鈥 between families, schools and colleges via a 鈥渕ulti-stakeholder approach鈥 Include work-related suicides in the Health and Safety Executive鈥檚 annual reporting and inspection regimes Run a 鈥減ositive campaign to raise awareness of mental health risks and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help鈥, targeted at the education workforce are available 365 days a year. You can reach them on free call number 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit to find your nearest branch. runs a confidential helpline for education staff and teachers 鈥 call 08000 562 561.