Personal wellbeing

Helpful tips on adapting to life as a teacher

According to former customs officer Stuart Reilly, dealing with drug smugglers and bootleggers was often easier than coping with a class of Year 8 students! Now enrolled on a graduate teacher programme, Stuart says he is finding teaching much harder than he expected and has turned to Teachers TV for help. In this programme, we send life coach Gladeana McMahon down to Dane Court Grammer School in Broadstairs to meet with Stuart and see what she can do to help. Classroom management and dividing time fairly between classes are what Stuart identifies as his main problem areas. Having observed him in the classroom, Gladeana offers Stuart her expert advice and returns two weeks later to see what changes he has made.

A Challenging Career Change

Time saving tips on how to deal with absences from school

Advice on saving time when dealing with absences is the focus for experienced teacher and time-saving expert Jo Parry. Like all teachers, Jo has experienced playing catch-up when a student comes into the lesson late. She gives us ideas on how to make the most of this, and systems for minimising time spent trying to find the work the absent students have missed. Jo also chats to new dad and drama teacher Les who has been absent recently on paternity leave. Les shares his tips for keeping students motivated, up-to-date and on target whilst he is away from school. Fellow teacher Debs shows how she uses draft letters when granting permission for student absence.

Absences - Yours and Theirs

A science teacher gets advice on presentation and style

Science teacher Alexandra Edwards gets advice on improving her presentation techniques from motivation and creativity consultant Richard Gerver. Richard is impressed by Alexandra's "game show host" approach to teaching but, like all performers, she needs to watch her timing and tempo. Richard talks to Alexandra about her clothing and the impact this has on her student's perception of her. Later she goes shopping with a leading fashion stylist who gives her tips on suitable work wear. Finally we hear from Alexandra's students, and see if they like her new approach to lessons and the new style of their teacher. This is part of a series featuring three secondary teachers from Cheadle High School in Staffordshire, who work with an expert to improve their presentation styles.

Alexandra Edwards

The psychology of stress in schools

What makes some teachers calm and collected, when others feel frazzled? Find out, as Professor Cary Cooper investigates the psychology of stress. Cary, from Lancaster University, is joined by occupational psychologist Emma Donaldson-Feilder to focus on school stress. Scientific data gathered from a week-long series of experiments measuring stress levels at Kings Langley Secondary School, as featured in a previous Teachers TV series How Stressed Is Your School, is used. Psychologists recommend effective ways of running shorter meetings, and reducing the stress caused by tricky parents. They also look at the ways to help teachers prioritise their paperwork.

All in the Mind?

Building relationships to ease workplace strife

Relationships matter and can make the difference between a good day in school and a bad one. Presenter Emma Wilkinson meets a teacher who tells us how unhappy she has been over the past two years because she's been bullied by another staff member. Lynn Witheridge from The Andrea Adams Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to tackling workplace bullying, offers some general advice. Park Hill Junior School in Croydon booked an African music and dance workshop through Sewa-Education. The drummers and dancers worked with the pupils during the day and then stayed on for an after-school teambuilding session with staff. Dawn McCormack and Michael Tidd found romance thanks to a website especially for teachers, hosted by the TES. It was created by Dawn Cox when she realised teachers needed somewhere to go to meet other people who understand their profession. It certainly worked for Dawn and Michael who met, fell in love and moved in together in the space of three months. For more information about this programme, visit the resources and support materials page.

All Together Now

Kings Langley's headteacher recognises the pressures of his role

Follow the headteacher of Kings Langley School during his fifth spring term, in which he takes stock and recognises the pressures placed on his role. The wife and children of Gary Lewis, of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, are well aware of the pressures he faces as headteacher. Gary feels that he's coping well with the stresses and strains five years into the job, and anticipates a spring term with the usual highs and lows. The term turns out to be more momentous for him than he'd thought. There are unexpected problems to deal with, tricky decisions to make, and a mountain of paperwork and long hours. However, it's an assembly he prepares about stress for his Year 11s facing GCSEs which triggers a watershed moment.

Am I Stressed?

An in-depth look at the physiology of teacher stress

Professor Cary Cooper from Lancaster University is joined by occupational psychologist Emma Donaldson-Feilder to explore the physiology of stress, using scientific data gathered at the Kings Langley Secondary School. Why do some staff find that teaching takes such a physical toll? What causes the stress hormone cortisol to peak? By pinpointing the moment of optimum stress, teachers can start to control the cause of their stress and subsequently reduce it. We also examine the career of a teacher who appears remarkably relaxed after 20 years experience in the classroom. Concern mounts as it transpires that the surface calm is masking some worrying physiological readings. Is it the presence of cameras that is causing this stress?

Avoiding Burnout

Gladeana McMahon offers useful advice on work/life balance

Life coach Gladeana McMahon visits Martin Forryan, school facilities coordinator at Bradstow Special School in Broadstairs, to offer advice on his work/life balance. Martyn is line manager to five offices and 25 catering staff. He holds a great deal of responsibility, being on-call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This high pressured job has impacted on Martin's life; all he ever thinks about is work, whether he is actually taking work home with him or just thinking about what he has left behind. Martin is hoping that a visit from Gladeana will help boost his confidence, offer strategies to improve his communication skills and inspire him to find the time he needs to pursue a more balanced lifestyle.

Calm Exterior, Stressed Interior

Time saving tips on how to deal with communication effectively

Experienced teacher Jo Parry looks at how to save time when it comes to communicating with colleagues and parents. Jo explains how she manages her email, ensuring she can quickly contact relevant people and reduces her mountain of paperwork. She guides fellow teacher Nicky through time-saving advice, including tips on how to best utilise her time when phoning parents, and laying down time limits to ensure a phone call doesn't overrun.

Communication

A case study gives advice on coping with workplace intimidation

A real-life case study leads to expert advice on handling intimidation or workplace bullying in school, in this personal wellbeing video for primary and secondary headteachers and teaching staff. This video looks at what to do if a teacher is being intimidated by a senior colleague, in a reconstruction of a true story of a middle-aged teacher targeted by a new headteacher. As events unfold, the teacher is left increasingly depressed and isolated. Experts explain how the teacher should respond and how the headteacher should manage her desire for sweeping changes at the school.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Whole school

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