Teacher Mental Health Digital Conference

Tuesday 21st September 2021

Digital Event, Broadcast Live

Key Points
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teacher mental health, and lessons learnt that can be taken forward to improve the way we support all educational staff
  • Developing a whole school approach to culture change around mental health
  • Tackling and breaking down barriers preventing teachers from accessing support
  • Maintaining collegiality in times of uncertainty and change
  • Managing heavy teacher workloads and poor work/life balance
  • Supporting with the challenges specific to senior leaders and headteachers
  • Mental health and wellbeing for the retention of NQTs
Overview
Confirmed Speakers:

  • Paul Farmer CBE, Chief Executive, Mind - member Department of Education’s Expert Advisory Group on Staff Wellbeing
  • Sinead McBrearty, Chief Executive, Education Support
  • Ben Levinson, Headteacher, Kensington Primary School - Winner of 2020 Tes Award for Wellbeing & Mental Health and Member of EAG
  • Simon Pirotte OBE, Principal & Chief Executive, Bridgend College - Winner of Mind's Gold Achieving Excellence Award for Workplace Wellbeing 2020
  • Evelyn Forde MBE, Headteacher, Copthall Hall
  • Joan Deslandes OBE, Headteacher, Kingsford Community School
  • Samantha Morgan, Director of People, Bridgend College
  • Rina Bajaj, Head of Training, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
  • Martin Hodge, Senior Professional Officer for Policy, Voice The Union
  • Maria Cunningham, Head of Education, Teacher Development Trust
  • Steve Edmonds, Director of Advice and Guidance, National Governance Association
  • Gary Wilkie, CEO, Learning in Harmony Trust


Poor mental health is believed to cost the UK education sector between £1.1 and £1.5 billion per year, with 74% of all education professionals having experienced behavioural, psychological, or physical symptoms of poor mental health due to their work. [1] Add to this the impact of a global pandemic, and there has never been a more urgent time to support the mental wellbeing of teachers, school leaders and support staff.

Westminster Insight’s Teacher Mental Health Digital Conference provides vital information for education providers, local authorities, health services, and charities on how best to support teachers’ mental health as we begin to collectively move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Award-winning educational professionals share actionable insights from their whole-school approaches to putting mental health at the heart of an organisation, proven to be effective at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff across the board. Experts present on leading data in the field to identify key challenges and solutions, as well as offering practical advice to manage mental health at an individual level.

Attend to ensure your school community is equipped to support the mental health of teachers, and in turn improve teacher retention and the quality of teaching your staff provide as a result.

[1] 2020, Teacher Wellbeing Index
Agenda
Start

09:00 - 09:15
Chair’s Opening Remarks

 
Speakers

Gary Wilkie CEO, Learning in Harmony Trust

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09:15 - 09:45
Keynote Address: Teacher Mental Health - The National Picture

 
  • Overview of the teacher mental health crisis and what needs to happen to move forward
  • Understanding the challenges and changes that teachers have faced during the pandemic, and the impact on their mental health 
  • The importance of teacher mental health for whole-school mental health 
  Questions and Discussions - 09:35 – 09:45
Speakers

Paul Farmer CBE Chief Executive, Mind - member Department of Education’s Expert Advisory Group on Staff Wellbeing

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09:45 - 10:15
Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic on How to Establish and Maintain Collegiality for Teacher Mental Health

 
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way schools support the mental health of teachers, and what learnings can be taken forward to improve staff support 
  • Establishing community and connection through effective peer support spaces and supervision 
  • Maintaining collegiality through periods of uncertainty and change   
Questions and Discussions - 10:05 – 10:15
Speakers

Sinead McBrearty Chief Executive, Education Support

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10:15 - 10:45
Best Practice Case Study: Bridgend College *2020 Winner of Mind’s Gold Achieving Excellence Award for Workplace Wellbeing

 
  • Hear from the winner of Mind’s Gold Achieving Excellence Award for Workplace Wellbeing on how they’re taking a successful whole-school approach to improving teacher mental health and wellbeing
  • Identifying challenges and breaking down barriers preventing teachers from receiving support 
  • How senior management can lead by example in opening up conversations about mental health   
Questions and Discissions – 10:35 – 10:45
Speakers

Samantha Morgan Director of People, Bridgend College

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Simon Pirotte OBE Principal & Chief Executive, Bridgend College

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10:45 - 11:15
Intermission

 

11:15 - 11:45
Looking After Your Own Wellbeing: An Individual-Level Approach to Teacher Mental Health

 
  • Whole school approaches versus what can be done at an individual level to help manage teacher mental health
  • Practical, actionable advice for the individual on managing stress and finding the right support 
  • Managing expectations and focusing on what lies within an individual’s control to empower staff to prioritise their own wellbeing where possible
Questions and Discussions – 11:35 – 11:45
Speakers

Dr Rina Bajaj Head of Training, Anna Freud Centre for Children & Families

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11:45 - 12:15
How to Improve Retention Rates Among NQTs

 
  • Understanding the challenges specific to NQTs causing them to leave the teaching profession
  • The links between teacher wellbeing and effective CPD
  • How to support NQTs and improve retention rates amongst this demographic as a result 
Questions and Discussions – 12:05-12:15
Speakers

Maria Cunningham Head of Education, Teacher Development Trust

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12:15 - 12:45
Panel Discussion: Tackling Heavy Teacher Workloads and Poor Work / Life Balance

 
  • Understanding the impact of heavy workloads on teacher mental health, and what can be done to help to streamline workload, reducing the assessment burden, and supporting teachers through the accountability system 
  • Promoting trust and championing teacher autonomy 
  • Establishing effective communication channels between staff and SLT, and breaking down stigma to enable teachers to ask for help 
Questions and Discussions – 12:35 – 12:45
Speakers

Evelyn Forde MBE Headteacher, Copthall Hall

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Martin Hodge Senior Professional Officer for Policy, Voice The Union

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12:45 - 13:15
Panel Discussion: Supporting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Headteachers and Senior Level Staff

 
  • Understanding the challenges specific to senior leaders, who consistently report the highest levels of stress amongst all education staff, and what can be done to help
  • Encouraging openness and effective peer-to-peer support through teacher support networks 
  • Taking a whole school approach to teacher wellbeing, inclusive of staff at the top, to help overcome isolation 
 Questions and Discussions – 13:05 – 13:15
Speakers

Joan Deslandes OBE Headteacher, Kingsford Community School

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Steve Edmonds Director of Advice and Guidance, National Governance Association

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Ben Levinson Headteacher, Kensington Primary School, Winner of 2020 Tes Award for Wellbeing & Mental Health and Member of EAG

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13:15 - 13:25
Chair’s Closing Remarks

 
Speakers

Gary Wilkie CEO, Learning in Harmony Trust

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End
Speakers

Dr Rina Bajaj Head of Training, Anna Freud Centre for Children & Families

Read profile

Maria Cunningham Head of Education, Teacher Development Trust

Read profile

Joan Deslandes OBE Headteacher, Kingsford Community School

Read profile

Steve Edmonds Director of Advice and Guidance, National Governance Association

Read profile

Paul Farmer CBE Chief Executive, Mind - member Department of Education’s Expert Advisory Group on Staff Wellbeing

Read profile

Evelyn Forde MBE Headteacher, Copthall Hall

Read profile

Martin Hodge Senior Professional Officer for Policy, Voice The Union

Read profile

Ben Levinson Headteacher, Kensington Primary School, Winner of 2020 Tes Award for Wellbeing & Mental Health and Member of EAG

Read profile

Sinead McBrearty Chief Executive, Education Support

Read profile

Samantha Morgan Director of People, Bridgend College

Read profile

Simon Pirotte OBE Principal & Chief Executive, Bridgend College

Read profile

Gary Wilkie CEO, Learning in Harmony Trust

Read profile

Venue details

Digital Event Broadcast Live

Speakers
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