Staff Wellbeing

At Springwood High School, as part of West Norfolk Academies Trust, we are committed to promoting a positive, supportive and healthy working environment for all staff. Well-being is central to our ethos, and we work collectively across the Trust to ensure that every colleague feels valued, listened to and equipped to carry out their role effectively.

Regular Well-Being Meetings
To ensure staff voice remains at the heart of our approach, each school elects a well-being representative who attends regular Trust-wide meetings. These meetings provide an opportunity to share feedback, identify emerging pressures, celebrate successes and work collaboratively on strategies to further improve staff well-being across all schools.

Workload Reduction Measures
The Trust has established a number of systems to reduce unnecessary workload and enable staff to focus on the elements of teaching that have the greatest impact on pupils: Subject specific feedback: Following school best practice, each subject creates time-efficient and effective feedback policies. This includes approaches such as live marking and whole-class feedback which reduces the need for extensive written marking outside lesson time and provides immediate feedback to pupils. Detailed curriculum plans: These are fully developed and supported at Trust level, meaning class teachers only need to adapt them to suit their class, context and teaching style. Trust-wide assessment: Ensures consistency of assessment expectations and reduces duplicated work, while also offering supportive professional dialogue. Online parents’ evenings for subjects: Flexible start times to allow staff to travel home and then begin the parents’ evening, or start earlier and stay in school. Staff staying at school can book food. Training days: Specific time set aside on whole school training days to allow individual planning and preparation time

Workload Reduction Measures

The Trust has established a number of systems to reduce unnecessary workload and enable staff to focus on the elements of teaching that have the greatest impact on pupils:

Subject specific feedback: Following school best practice, each subject creates time-efficient and effective feedback policies. This includes approaches such as live marking and whole-class feedback which reduces the need for extensive written marking outside lesson time and provides immediate feedback to pupils.
Detailed curriculum plans: These are fully developed and supported at Trust level, meaning class teachers only need to adapt them to suit their class, context and teaching style.
Trust-wide assessment: Ensures consistency of assessment expectations and reduces duplicated work, while also offering supportive professional dialogue.
Online parents’ evenings for subjects: Flexible start times to allow staff to travel home and then begin the parents’ evening, or start earlier and stay in school. Staff staying at school can book food.
Training days: Specific time set aside on whole school training days to allow individual planning and preparation time

Professional Support and Collaboration
Colleagues benefit from regular opportunities to collaborate and develop professionally: Subject leadership support across the Trust: Subject leaders have access to Trust-wide networks, shared resources, guidance and mentoring. Cross-school opportunities: Staff can visit other schools, observe best practice and contribute to shared development projects. High-quality CPD: We provide a high-quality, research-informed CPD programme designed to develop and support every member of staff. This includes: self-directed study, subject CPD, peer-collaboration projects, leadership development sessions, guided coaching and opportunities in the WNAT leadership pathways, and opportunities to engage with NPQs. Dept Meeting time: One hour per fortnight is protected on the timetable for all teachers to allow collaborative work within or across departments.

Professional Support and Collaboration

Colleagues benefit from regular opportunities to collaborate and develop professionally:

Subject leadership support across the Trust: Subject leaders have access to Trust-wide networks, shared resources, guidance and mentoring.
Cross-school opportunities: Staff can visit other schools, observe best practice and contribute to shared development projects.
High-quality CPD: We provide a high-quality, research-informed CPD programme designed to develop and support every member of staff. This includes: self-directed study, subject CPD, peer-collaboration projects, leadership development sessions, guided coaching and opportunities in the WNAT leadership pathways, and opportunities to engage with NPQs.
Dept Meeting time: One hour per fortnight is protected on the timetable for all teachers to allow collaborative work within or across departments.

Trust Well-Being Newsletter
A monthly Trust Well-Being Newsletter is shared with all staff. This provides: Practical strategies for maintaining personal well-being Advice on managing workload and classroom pressures Signposting to relevant support services and guidance Updates on well-being initiatives taking place across the Trust

Trust Well-Being Newsletter

A monthly Trust Well-Being Newsletter is shared with all staff. This provides:

Practical strategies for maintaining personal well-being
Advice on managing workload and classroom pressures
Signposting to relevant support services and guidance
Updates on well-being initiatives taking place across the Trust

Support Helplines and Resources
We want every member of staff to know that help is available when needed. Below are key support numbers: Education Support (Education-Specific, 24/7) 08000 562 561 www.educationsupport.org.uk A completely confidential service designed specifically for people working in education. Staff can access friendly advice, emotional support, counselling, coaching and practical guidance whenever they need it. It’s there to help you look after your wellbeing, whatever your role in school. Shout (24/7 Text Support) Text SHOUT to 85258 A free, confidential text service offering calm, supportive conversation at any time of day or night. This can be especially helpful if you’d prefer to text rather than talk, or if you want someone to listen after a busy or demanding day.

Support Helplines and Resources

We want every member of staff to know that help is available when needed. Below are key support numbers:

Education Support (Education-Specific, 24/7)

08000 562 561
www.educationsupport.org.uk

A completely confidential service designed specifically for people working in education. Staff can access friendly advice, emotional support, counselling, coaching and practical guidance whenever they need it. It’s there to help you look after your wellbeing, whatever your role in school.

Shout (24/7 Text Support)

Text SHOUT to 85258

A free, confidential text service offering calm, supportive conversation at any time of day or night. This can be especially helpful if you’d prefer to text rather than talk, or if you want someone to listen after a busy or demanding day.