Lightening the load: The cost of teacher workloads

The growing burden…

Teacher workloads in the UK remain a significant issue, averaging 49 hours per week, despite efforts to reduce pressure. Reports highlight that 56% of teachers feel their workload is unmanageable, with many spending more time on administrative tasks than on teaching itself. 

The impact of these workloads is concerning. Nearly 92% of teachers considering leaving the profession cite workload as the main reason. The challenges attributed to high workloads, such as burnout,  is creating a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, with 86% of teachers reporting workplace stress​.

Key Initiatives to Tackle Workload Challenges

• Flexibility in Working Conditions

  Encouraging more flexible working arrangements has shown promise in reducing teacher burnout. In primary schools, around 50% of teachers already work flexibly. This isn’t without compromise however, as 57% of teachers feel flexible working would negatively impact their career progression, so it’s essential to establish clear pathways that balance flexibility with career growth​ and prospects.

• Improving Professional Development

  Many educators feel that ongoing professional development is hindered by time constraints and excessive workloads. Offering more accessible and workload-conscious professional development opportunities, such as online courses, resilience training or workshops with classroom coverage provided, could support in improving their skills without additional overwhelm.

• Workload Reduction Taskforce

  The UK government has established a Workload Reduction Taskforce aimed at streamlining teachers’ responsibilities. This initiative has led to recommendations like reducing the frequency of lesson observations and simplifying data collection methods​. By focusing on efficiency, the task force aims to eliminate redundant processes and create additional resources for educators to focus on their primary teaching duties.

• Technology Integration:

  EdTech has been a primary topic over the last few weeks, with multiple sources calling for additional digital resources and applications. Team this with the demand for additional mental health resources, and the solution is clear: We need to provide students with digital mental health resources to aid in their overwhelming workload. By adapting new technologies, such as eQuoo , our mental health app  for students, educators will have the opportunity to free up resources used in supporting this area of student wellbeing.

Enhancing Teacher Wellbeing with eQuoo

At PsycApps, our mission is to support teachers by promoting student mental health through building resilience, and reducing levels of anxiety and depression through eQuoo. eQuoo is our clinically proven solution to improve mental wellbeing in students and young adults.

When students are best equipped to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges, it eases the burden on teachers who often need to address these challenges alongside their academic duties. By utilising eQuoo, schools can foster a healthier learning environment, in turn, allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and less on classroom management and individual emotional crises.  Ultimately reducing their stress levels and improving workload.

Join our upcoming webinar to discuss all the eQuoo updates with our founder, Dr Silja Litvin Phil. Register today!