Cultures that care: a retention toolkit for schools

Practical, evidence-based guidance for school leaders 

Teacher retention remains one of the most pressing challenges facing schools across the UK:

For school leaders, the impact is immediate and far-reaching, affecting teaching quality, workload sustainability, school culture, and outcomes for children and young people.

Cultures that care: a retention toolkit for school leaders brings together research-informed, practical actions you can take now to create the conditions where staff feel supported to stay longer and thrive in the profession.

Why staff retention matters in schools

High staff turnover doesn’t just create recruitment challenges. It directly affects:

• Teaching quality and continuity for pupils
• Staff wellbeing, morale and workload
• Equity and opportunity across the school community
• Financial sustainability, including recruitment and training costs

Research shows that strengthening workplace wellbeing is one of the most effective ways to improve retention. This toolkit translates that evidence into practical, school-level actions.

This toolkit is grounded in research supported by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and is aligned to the key drivers of workplace wellbeing known to improve recruitment, retention and performance in schools. To explore the evidence and our recommendations, see our paper Revisiting the teacher retention crisis: recommendations for change.

What this free retention toolkit offers school leaders

Inside, you’ll find:

• Clear, evidence-based recommendations for school leaders
• Practical examples of what good looks like in real schools
• Links to free tools, guides and resources you can use immediately
• Actions that support staff wellbeing without adding to workload

The toolkit can act as a starting point for culture change that is achievable, not quick fixes or token gestures.

The key drivers of workplace wellbeing in schools

The toolkit is structured around core drivers of workplace wellbeing, each with tailored recommendations and supporting resources for school settings:

• Support
• Learning
• Appreciation
  Flexibility
• Inclusion and belonging
• Management
• Stress
• Trust
• Purpose
• Energy
• Achievement

Each section includes specific actions school leaders can take, alongside links to free tools such as wellbeing plans, audits, reflective exercises and guidance. This is not a definitive list -  as research into workplace wellbeing continues, more drivers will be added over time. Take a look at the latest version on the World Wellbeing Movement website. 

Staying well as a school leader

This toolkit recognises that culture and retention work is demanding, particularly for leaders carrying significant responsibility.

Alongside whole-school recommendations, it signposts support for leaders themselves — including access to fully funded professional supervision for school and college leaders in England, and 24/7 confidential emotional support for all education staff.

Because to lead well, you need to stay well.

Download the Cultures that care retention toolkit

If you’re a school leader looking for practical, evidence-based ways to improve staff wellbeing and retention, this toolkit is designed for you.

Download the Cultures that care: a retention toolkit for schools (PDF)

Use it to:

• Review your current culture and practices
• Prioritise actions that genuinely support staff
• Strengthen retention without increasing workload

Sources:

• Cunningham, S., Fleming, W., Regier, C., Kaats, M., and De Neve, J. (2024). “Work Wellbeing Playbook: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions to Improve Employee Wellbeing”. Work Wellbeing Movement.
• School workforce in England data: explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2024

As a charity, Education Support can only provide free resources thanks to the generosity of our community of donors. If you’ve found this helpful, please consider making a donation today.

Want to help drive change? Write to your MP today

We know that many of the pressures driving staff out of the education profession are beyond the control of schools themselves and demand urgent government action. Schools alone can’t fix the retention crisis.

That’s why Education Support has launched a new campaign calling on the Government to develop a dedicated teacher retention strategy, grounded in mental health and workplace wellbeing evidence.

Want to help drive change? Write to your MP today.