William Harding School’s Commitment to Staff Wellbeing

At William Harding School, we understand that happy, healthy staff add so much value to our community ensuring that we all 'aim high, work hard and be kind'.

We are acutely aware of the challenges present across the teaching profession, and we see it as our duty to support our colleagues. We have a strong commitment to wellbeing, and an understanding that time and space are the greatest gift that we can give our team.

Our wellbeing initiatives include:

  • A culture of kindness and collaboration within the school

  • Half a day wellbeing per term

  • Employee Assistance Programme - EAP  

  • Occupational Health referrals and support 

  • Family Liaison Officers for support 

  • Access to a counsellor 

  • SEN Team for support

  • Leadership structure in place (Year leaders, key stage leaders, lead TAs, AHT and DHTs) to provide ongoing support with managing workload or other CPD needs

  • Behaviour support from behaviour specialist 

  • Additional support from English and Maths specialists (DHTs) as needed 

  • Subject leader and year leader time out of class to complete workload 

  • Tailored CPD to meet the needs of individual staff

  • Staff meeting time to action assessment/book scrutiny etc  

  • Staff meeting time to run parents evening sessions 

  • The option to take PPA from home, should a teacher wish to

  • Structure of shared workload by 3/4 teachers  

  • Planning shared between all staff in Year group team

  • Trained Domestic Abuse Champions to support staff

  • Light marking policy with marking stickers in line with DfE workload research 

  • Trialling work load reduction initiatives led by staff

  • Reducing administration tasks for teachers by employing additional office support staff 

  • Free hot drinks

  • Trained Menopause Champions

  • Regular Time to Talk sessions to provide staff with an opportunity to talk to someone

  • Workload and wellbeing committees and staff meetings to gain staff voice and review our strategies

  • William Harding Wonders – staff recognition board and monthly rewards

  • Social events for staff

We do not see wellbeing as a tokenistic gesture and we avoid wellbeing gimmicks often discussed on social media. Wellbeing should be interwoven into everything that we do with the understanding that happy staff perform better and live healthier lives.

Here are some comments from staff in our recent workload and wellbeing survey;

  • Line managers check in, supportive ethos, good communication, listening staff, tea and coffee and milk provided!

  • Wellbeing time, teas and coffees, toiletries in toilets, reduced marking and planning, snacks at parents evenings, WH Wonders

  • The well being half days are a lovely perk, no emails outside of working hours, no access to school at silly hours - Forces you to stop working at a reasonable time

  • Wellbeing days/Time to talk/Supportive Team/Flexibility

  • Lunches provided on long days and insets, not working late expectations, open door policy, positive Wednesdays, Change to timetables so we have a break from books/pupils. A stocked kettle area. No emails before 8AM

  • Promoting the Employee Assistance Programme, Well-being afternoons

Our Workload and Wellbeing committee surveyed staff to find out how they support their own mental health - Click here to find out what they do.

Useful links to support our staff’s wellbeing