There’s no denying that the covid-19 completely changed the face of education in the UK, and worldwide. Overnight, they sent school children home and teachers had to adjust to quickly teaching lessons online, and adjusting their lesson plan to suit this new way of life.
Returning to schools was a key priority during the lockdowns, but even two and a half years later schools struggle because of covid-related absences in both staff and pupils.
As time has passed, there’s been the question about whether teachers face additional strain in the job after covid. The answer is straightforward: yes. The real question is, if you’re facing pressure at work and don’t feel supported by your school, what will you do about it? Sometimes the answer is to get a new job. It’s okay to move on to a place where you’ll be treated better.
The excellent part is, there are specialist teaching recruitment agencies out there who can provide you with advice and support through the entire job searching process, so you don’t have to handle it all by yourself.
Education During Covid
Lockdown in March 2020 quickly saw the schools shut and teachers adapted to online learning, with the support of parents and children all over the country. Suddenly, we lived in a world where the classroom was virtual, and teachers had to change their lesson plans at short notice.
Meanwhile, the advice changed constantly on whether children should be in classrooms or at home, and teachers were expected to drop everything at short notice. Rumours were rampant about summer being cancelled so children could catch up on lost learning, then lockdown two happened, and then three. Children and teachers lost large chunks of the year because of the chaos.
It’s no surprise there were teachers complaining of higher levels of stress because of coronavirus and the uncertainty. They were given little notice from the government about any plans regarding the schools, and had to be ready to change everything at a moment’s notice. It’s no wonder these additional pressures affected the teacher’s mental health.
Coming Back To Schools After Lockdowns
Once we were back in the classroom, teachers faced the additional stress of helping pupils who had fallen behind catch up while also trying to deliver the curriculum. Mental health guides were printed to help teachers cope, while studies were conducted that showed one in three teachers wanted to quit because of the additional pressures they were facing at work.
Everyone had an opinion on how things should be done, what children needed, and what teachers ought to be doing. It was a difficult time to be in the role, but thousands of teachers around the UK got on with it.
At a time when mental health was at an all-time low, teachers felt the strain too. A recent study showed 44% of teachers in the UK wanted to move on to something else in the next five years because of the unmanageable pressure they face in their job.
With heavier workloads than ever, it’s never been more important for teachers to feel supported by their superiors at work.
Is Your School Supporting You Post-Covid?
The primary thing teachers need post-pandemic is support from their school. In an environment where you’re supporting children who have missed out on large chunks of their education, it’s completely normal to feel the stress and strain.
If you’re experiencing difficulties, the first thing you should do is speak to your line manager about your concerns. It’s the school’s job to support their staff and ensure they’re functioning to the best of their abilities.
There are plenty of resources for schools to use to ensure good teacher mental wellbeing, and if you feel you’re speaking to a brick wall whenever you try to get help at your school, then it could be time to look for a new job.
As a teacher, there is nothing worse than dreading going to work. When you’re in the classroom, you have to give your all to your pupils, no matter how you feel. If your school isn’t supporting you, there are other schools out there who will.
You don’t have to do it alone. There are consultants who can support you with your teaching job search, and through the interview process to make the entire process less daunting.
Any good recruitment agency for teachers will provide a helping hand while you’re looking, so even if you’re still working they’ll find the vacancies for you. So you can focus on your current job, while finding a new one where you’ll be more looked after.
