From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

FIFE TO 'STRESS PROOF' SCHOOLS

Fife Council plans to 'stress proof' all of its schools with an authority-wide audit of teacher and staff wellbeing. Nearly 300 schools will take the online StaffWise survey to analyse the way in which employees view their working environment, with the first school beginning the process tomorrow (Monday). School leaders will then identify areas for improvement and use the results to help improve staff morale.

"I consider StaffWise to be a key tool to inform school improvement" said Bryan Kirkaldy, Education Senior Manager in Fife. "Indeed the evidence is that the participation of staff in using this method to support improvement in itself improves staff wellbeing."

Teachers will answer questions on areas such as Support, Role, and Relationships in the ten-minute survey from StaffWise, which was developed with the support of the Scottish Government by Teacher Support Scotland, in partnership with Fife Council. The format and questions are designed around the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Stress Management Standards for a Healthy Workplace. It is hoped all schools in Fife will have completed the audit by June 2011.

The move comes following increasing fears that teachers in Scotland are facing burnout over the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence.

"Even the greatest teachers can struggle with the stresses and pressures they are faced with, particularly when a new system or curriculum is introduced" explains Julian Stanley, Chief Executive of Teacher Support Scotland. "The impact of just one teacher's absence can have an immeasurable effect not only on the colleagues, who may be expected to take up their workload, but also on the pupils being taught. Sickness absence and burnout decreases - and therefore standards of education for pupils improve - when schools and councils implement meaningful policies that protect and enhance teachers' wellbeing."

The StaffWise toolkit was developed over a two year pilot process with schools in Renfrewshire and Fife. Results showed that staff wellbeing improved simply by participating in the audit. The website incorporates an online toolkit of resources including practical guides, policy information and health promotion advice.

Dozens of schools across the country have signed up for the free scheme, but this is the first time a local authority has launched a project of this scale.