Best Practice

Headteacher wellbeing: 10 strategies for the new school year

A new school year is upon us and staff wellbeing is high on the agenda. But, as headteachers, we cannot look after our staff if we don’t look after ourselves. Gary Murrell offers 10 strategies to protect headteacher wellbeing
Image: Adobe Stock

The role of a headteacher is a huge privilege which can be extremely affirming. Having the opportunity to lead and manage the education of young people is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

It is a job in which you never cease to learn and where experience and on-going review and reflection help you to become increasingly effective.

And so as another school year gets underway, in this article I outline a range strategies and principles which I believe help to safeguard the wellbeing of headteachers.

 

1, The oxygen mask

Take good care of your own physical and emotional needs. In order to be best placed to serve and support others it is essential for school leaders to be physically and emotionally fit. Regular exercise, good nutrition and sleep patterns improve our ability to think clearly, make good decisions, and have a positive impact on our emotional wellbeing.

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