Thanks to you, we’re here for everyone working in education, with free help and resources available 24/7

You may remember the release of the TV series Adolescence earlier this year. It struck a national nerve, igniting long-overdue conversations about a form of misogyny that’s been building for years, amplified by social media influencers and spilling into classrooms.

The public was shocked. The media exploded. Parliament debated it. Schools broadcast the series in assemblies and lessons. Teachers felt the impact from every angle: experiencing this behaviour themselves and doing everything they could to support the pupils affected by it.

But despite the shock and novelty of the situation, for those of us in education this wasn’t a one-off. We’ve been here before. After war, protest, pandemic, disaster, scandal, death. Moments when the world shifts, and young people turn to the adults around them for answers, safety, and understanding.

Teachers always have the relationships, trust and skills to support our pupils. We’ve all had times when we’ve abandoned the lesson plan to meet the moment, answered the difficult questions in lectures and found the right words for younger children. Educators know how to guide young people through turmoil.

The difference with this crisis in this day and age is that more and more, staff are exhausted, burnt out and running on empty due to increasing demands and workload. Rising pressures such as workload, curriculum, SEND needs and staffing shortages leave little space for reflection, calm or capacity. For too many teachers, there is simply no time or headspace left to pause, reflect, and respond in the way they know is needed. Our teachers are exceptional, but the system is getting in the way.

Thanks to generous supporters, when the backlash after Adolescence hit hardest, teachers didn't have to face it alone. Their support helped us quickly bring together an expert panel and run a live webinar, giving hundreds of educators practical tools, insight, and reassurance.

 

One attendee, Claire* from Manchester, shared the impact the webinar had on her and her pupils:

“As a teacher, I often feel like I’m stumbling through complex issues - misogyny, gender identity, how to support boys post-lockdown - without the language or tools to do it well. I showed up to the webinar hoping for clarity. What I left with was reassurance, practical strategies, and a sense that I’m not alone.

One shift that really stuck with me was moving from ‘What is a man in 2025?’ to ‘What makes a good man?’ It reframed how I support boys in the classroom and gave me the confidence to start conversations I’d been too nervous to have.

I’ve come away with actionable ideas from this webinar, and you didn’t just help me feel better equipped, you helped me feel seen. As someone said in the session, ‘You’ve restored my faith in humanity and in teaching.’ I couldn’t agree more.”

Claire’s story is just one example of the impact support can have.

With nearly 150 years of experience supporting educators, Education Support is here for both the urgent moments and to push for the long-term changes. We're proud to provide free, expert support for teachers when they need it most, while also working to change the system they work in.

The cost of delivering expert support continues to grow, but so does the pressure on our schools. Support from individuals helps us keep pace with that need - standing beside educators in the hardest moments, while also fuelling systemic change.

Education Support is there for teachers in these hard times of challenge, while fixing issues for the long term. For example, our free, 24/7 helpline was used by thousands of teachers last year, and we’ve supported over 1,300 school and college leaders with professional supervision so far. At the government level, our research has fed into national reviews on Ofsted and teacher retention, and we’ve recently met with the Schools Minister to champion the changes needed to increase the wellbeing of all education staff in the UK.

Our work is making a difference, and we’re determined to keep going, for educators and their pupils.

Thank you, as always, for the impact you’ve already made. You’re part of a growing community standing up for the people who show up for our children, even on the difficult days.

*Name changed to protect identity.