Education is one of the most rewarding and impactful professions in Wales, with practitioners making a difference to learners and young people, and communities every day. And whilst incredibly valued, it is important to recognise that the role can be demanding. That’s why sustaining a healthy, resilient workforce is essential to maintaining public trust and confidence in education.
In our latest blog from our partners at Education Support, we look deeper into the findings of the Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025 which provides valuable insight into the experiences of education staff in Wales, and highlights the support available to help sustain long and fulfilling careers in the profession.
About the author
Mary Bilton is a Culture Advisor for the Staff Wellbeing Service in Wales, which is funded by Welsh Government to support school leaders, managers and wellbeing leads, at no cost.
With over 30 years of experience as Faculty Lead in secondary school education, Mary moved into the Education Wellbeing space through her work as a NPQ facilitator, and her own doctoral research into Attrition of Mid-career teachers at University of Reading.
I speak every day with teachers, school leaders, and education staff across Wales who give so much of themselves; emotionally, mentally, and physically to their jobs.
The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025 highlights just how much pressure education staff in Wales are carrying and how important it is to have the right support around you. Our findings cover everything from teacher stress, burnout, workload and lack of time.
While the Index highlights significant challenges, we also know that many staff continue to find strong purpose and meaning in their work, a reminder of the lasting impact education professionals have, even in demanding circumstances.
I’ll also share details of how school staff in Wales can access free mental health and wellbeing support, which is funded by Welsh Government, at no cost to your school.
About our findings
The statistics below relate specifically to responses from education staff working in Wales.
Our findings reflect the reality many of you will recognise. Three-quarters of staff reported feeling stressed this year, and almost half said the culture of their organisation is having a negative impact on their mental health.
Many are experiencing real symptoms too: irritability, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating were among the most common, with 71% reporting psychological, physical or behavioural effects linked to work.
Even though some staff feel supported by their organisation, the picture is mixed. More than half said they receive good support for mental health and wellbeing, but many still feel they’re left to cope alone.
Wellbeing and workplace scores show that while there is purpose and meaning in the work you do, stress levels remain high and anxiety is a regular part of the job.
Workload continues to be one of the biggest contributors to strain. Many staff in Wales experience “time poverty” most of the week and feel they’re working at high speed or to tight deadlines far too often.
On top of this, teachers and support staff are increasingly expected to pick up responsibilities that go well beyond the classroom like helping pupils regulate emotions or even providing food.
How we can help
It’s no surprise, then, that more than a third of education staff have seriously considered leaving their job this year, but you don’t have to face these challenges alone.
Our Professional Supervision and Advisory Service is designed specifically for school leaders and managers in Wales, giving you a safe, confidential space to talk, reflect and receive guidance from trained specialists who understand the pressures of the job.
Professional Supervision
Our Professional Supervision service offers a confidential, non-judgmental space exclusively for school leaders and managers where you can talk openly about the pressures you're facing, something that is often difficult to do within your own school.
Our experienced supervisors understand the realities of working in education. They understand the emotional labour, the constant responsibility, the guilt, the frustration, the meaningful moments and the difficult ones.
They know what it means to give so much of yourself every day. Talking to someone helps you reflect, decompress and gradually rebuild a sense of perspective and control. It supports you to recognise when emotions or stress responses are building before they become unmanageable.
Practical strategies and support
Beyond emotional support, supervision helps with practical strategies; setting boundaries, prioritising workload, navigating complex interactions with pupils, parents or colleagues, or finding ways to protect your wellbeing even when external pressures don’t change.
It can also help you reconnect with the reasons you joined the profession in the first place: the sense of purpose, impact and contribution that the Wellbeing Index shows is still present but often buried under the demands of the day-to-day.
For many leaders and managers, supervision becomes a regular form of self-care which is an essential part of staying grounded in a profession that continually asks for emotional resilience. Engaging with professional supervision isn’t just a step towards coping, it’s a step towards thriving, sustaining your career and protecting your wellbeing in the long term.
Wellbeing Advisory Service
Alongside supervision, our Wellbeing Advisory Service offers practical and emotional support, specifically tailored to the education sector. We provide in-the-moment support for staff wellbeing and mental health, alongside high-quality resources designed specifically for education staff on key topics such as menopause, stress management, and workload.
Our offer includes bespoke tools and resources tailored to each school’s individual challenges, as well as practical support with developing staff wellbeing action plans, strategies, policies, and wellbeing surveys to create lasting, meaningful change.
Free, confidential helpline
We also offer a free, confidential helpline for anyone working in education across the UK, including teachers, lecturers, support staff, and administrators.
Available 24/7, the service connects you with qualified counsellors who understand the unique pressures of the profession, offering emotional support, guidance in difficult situations, help with work-life balance, and signposting to further services if needed.
Download a free, bilingual helpline poster from our website, and place it in staff areas in your school.
We give you the tools and professional guidance to protect your wellbeing and sustain your career in education. If the findings from this year’s Index echo your own experience, getting support isn’t just about coping - it’s about protecting your wellbeing, reconnecting with your purpose and giving yourself the space you deserve.
Sign up now
School leaders, managers, and wellbeing leads - sign up to our free services today and a member of our team will be in touch: