Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025

It is absolutely not surprising that teacher wellbeing rates have dropped to a new low, according to the Teacher Wellbeing Index just published by Education Support.

In education settings, professionals are pulled in so many important directions every day, but always away from the focus they care about most deeply, the benefit to children and young people that their efforts deliver. Along with the key concern of child and adolescent mental health services, must be staff morale and staff well-being itself. As a parent and former teacher, I am alarmed at the impact on education professionals of the new kids on the political block: AI and smartphones in education.

Teacher recruitment and retention has always been difficult, and now with the further and rapid erosion of trust, confidence and attention spans, the relationship between young people and their teachers is more important than ever. I would like to see more national appreciation for teachers, not just on media and celebrity-led Thank a Teacher Day, but every day. Not just for teachers in their current roles, but for the value of their life's work.  

School and college leaders really are some of the best of people for the work they do. Not long ago I had the great fortune of bumping into a brilliant lady who was a former headteacher at a school I attended, and it was an amazing feeling to have the chance to speak and to thank her, even only in passing. May we all let our teachers, past and present, know we appreciate them, and may we pay them more!