This episode looks at how primary schools can support the good wellbeing of their teaching staff and whole-school communities with lots of advice, ideas and practical tips from our expert guests...

Our experts discuss how school leaders can develop a culture of wellbeing, touching on themes of workload, wellbeing initiatives, collaboration and teacher autonomy.

We discuss protective factors for staff, including mental health training and our sense of purpose as well as the links between pupil and staff wellbeing.

Other themes include overcoming imposter syndrome, looking after your own wellbeing – especially as a headteacher – and how to say no to extra tasks.

We signpost to a range of resources to support school’s with their staff (and pupil) wellbeing work and we round off by asking our guests what one change they would implement tomorrow to have an immediate effect.

As ever, the podcast is hosted by National Leader of Education and former primary school headteacher Helen Frostick and her guests this time are:

  • Kelly Hannaghan, Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant, The Education People.
  • Sarah Keefe, Headteacher, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Kingston upon Thames, London.
  • Andy Mellor is national wellbeing director at the Schools Advisory Service, and strategic lead with the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools at Leeds Beckett University. He is a former headteacher, leader of the Blackpool Teaching School Alliance, a National Leader of Education, and former president of the National Association of Head Teachers.

You can listen to this episode of the Headteacher Update Podcast above. To hear other Headteacher Update podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'The Headteacher Update Podcast' in your podcast streaming application of choice. Or visit www.headteacher-update.com/knowledge-bank/podcasts/

For details about The Headteacher Update Podcast, or to suggest future topics, email editor Pete Henshaw at pete.henshaw@markallengroup.com