I fully agree with your report highlighting that the Head’s management style has a huge impact on staff stress levels (“Value and respect can help the battle aganst burnout”, TES, April 11).
At our school, the “teacher’s voice” is as important as the pupil’s voice. Teachers who feel they are listened to and valued are much more positive about their work, and it rubs off on the pupils. The most effective voice, however, for protecting staff from advisersconsultants and a growing army of so-called external experts is the head teacher’s.
Such phrases as “That’s silly, we’re not doing that,” “How does this support my teachers in the classroom?” and “No,” save so much time and energy.
Perhaps it’s not surprising we have a waiting-list of teachers wanting to join us so that they can once again experience the excitement and energy of a classroom free of excessive tick-lists, bureaucratic frameworks and guidance-overload.
We have achieved consecutive outstanding Ofsted reports, simply by doing less, but, of the right things.
Kevin Bullock, Head teacher and National Consultant in LeadershipManagement, Fordham Primary School, Bury St Edmunds.
