Jessica's Story: you learn to live with the stress, but I’m not sure what it’s doing to my body long term
Jessica, a College SEND Educator, shares her experiences of working in education and how the workload has become more intense, leading to an exhausted and over-stretched workforce.
Your stories / 3 min read
I’ve been working in education for five years now. The school schedule seemed a good fit when I had children and I enjoy working with young adults. What I enjoy most about my role is building young people’s confidence and preparing them to step out into the world. Knowing I'm making a difference is what motivates me to stay.
But the role has definitely changed since the pandemic. There's been a noticeable shift with more responsibilities, and much more emotional support needed for students. I often feel more like a social worker than an educator. The pastoral side of the job has grown, but support for staff hasn't kept pace. We get the occasional training or a wellbeing session, but what we really need is someone to talk to when things get overwhelming.
With so many students to support - sometimes logging 20 reports in a day — the admin builds up quickly. Logging everything, moving from classroom to classroom, trying to squeeze work in during breaks (which are only 15 minutes long) is stressful and exhausting for everyone. Some colleagues take work home, but I try to protect my mental health. You learn to live with the stress, but I’m not sure what it’s doing to my body long term. I feel guilty when I don't take work home, but I want to protect my family life as well.
The emotional toll of the role is significant, especially when you're dealing with anxious students or supporting them through poverty-related issues, like not being able to afford lunch. These situations are upsetting. What we really need is more help in the classroom with more staff who can support students’ emotional needs so that learning can take place.
We need time to talk, to connect with our colleagues, and to feel like we’re not carrying everything alone.
While teachers are generally supportive, senior leadership often try to fix things with quick solutions, but the real problems run deeper. What we really need is understanding, presence, and connection from leaders. A pat on the back, and a "well done," or even just a leader popping in to say hello goes a long way to making you feel appreciated.
If I could ask for one change, it would be more investment in emotional support, both for students and staff. SEND pupils need quiet, safe spaces and teachers need proper training to understand their needs. We also need time to talk, to connect with our colleagues, and to feel like we’re not carrying everything alone. It would be fantastic to sit down with a colleague once in a while for a cup of tea and a chat, to talk about what challenges we’re dealing with at work, but there is no time in the day to do this.
Working in education is rewarding, but it is also isolating and overwhelming at times. I’d ask leaders and policy makers to come into the classroom, see the challenges we’re dealing with, and listen to what will help.
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