Every year, we review our national datasets for trends midway through the academic year. This year is no different. We have reviewed our Staff Experience and Wellbeing survey data (2023/24 Midterm data comprised of 10,938 staff members, 2022/23 full year data comprised of 46,918 staff members). In this blog, we highlight the most significant changes in staff wellbeing in schools and trusts.

Positive changes

Which areas have seen the most positive change in staff wellbeing?

Looking at the modules in our Staff Experience and Wellbeing survey, we can see that staff perceptions regarding professional support have improved. Particularly, responses to questions related to support from line managers have improved.

This module has seen an increase in positive responses to all of its questions. Increases for individual questions range from +2% to +4%.

What specific questions have seen the most positive change?

Responses to the question, “How satisfied are you with the performance management (appraisal) procedures in the school?” show that staff are 5% more positive (very or quite satisfied) so far in the 2023/24 academic year than they were in the 2022/23 academic year.

To the question, “How often does your line manager take your professional needs into account?” staff are 4% more positive (always/often) in the 2023/24 academic year so far than they were in the 2022/23 academic year.

Differences in staff wellbeing in schools by school phase

One area where we often see a difference in staff experience is by phase. Here, we are going to look at the changes in positive responses by phase, comparing the experiences of primary and secondary school staff.

What has changed for primary and secondary staff?

Staff from primary schools (2,704 staff members) were much more positive about student behaviour than those from secondary schools (7,094 staff members) in the 2022/23 academic year, yet now, in the 2023/24 academic year, there is much less of a difference. Specifically, secondary school staff have become more positive about questions in the Student Behaviour module, and those from primary schools were less positive this academic year compared to the results in 2022/2023. When exploring the data in our up-to-date mid-year benchmarks for the Staff Experience and Wellbeing survey, we can see that primary school staff perceptions of student behaviour have changed negatively.

The student behaviour module has seen a notable decrease in positive responses from primary staff. In fact, positive responses have decreased for all five questions in the module. The decreases for individual questions range from -2% to -10%.

When it comes to secondary staff, there is an increase in positive responses for the student behaviour module. Here, increases for individual questions range from +4% to +8%.

When asked about feelings of safety, primary school staff were 10% less positive this year compared to last year's benchmark. Alternatively, staff from secondary schools were 5% more positive than last year.

Responses to the question asking to rate student behaviour show a similar story. Primary school staff were 7% less positive this year compared to last year's benchmark. However, staff from secondary schools were 8% more positive than last year.

Understanding the bigger picture

If you are interested in exploring the topic of staff wellbeing in more detail:

• Sign up for our upcoming guide - Leadership Strategies for School Trusts - and learn from high-performing trust and school leaders;

• Read the Staff Retention by Role report to better understand the experience and challenges of different school staff positions;

• Run a Staff Experience and Wellbeing Survey to understand how staff are feeling in your trust or school. Reach out to us for a demo.