BESA CORNER
This month, in our ongoing feature highlighting the work of members of the UK education suppliers’ trade body BESA, we hear from software provider GSYNC; and WELBEE share the results from their National Staff Wellbeing Survey.
The top technology trends changing education
Schools are our future’s gateway into the wider world. Everything our kids experience and learn in school will help them navigate their lives at work, with friends and so much more. It’s vital that the education we offer our children includes practical and personal solutions – life lessons as well as math lessons. Perhaps no more important topic is tech. The generation currently in
education has grown up with technology as part of their everyday landscape, in a way that none before has. As adults we are learning as we go. Our children are the thought leaders. Ensuring that our schools stay on top of new trends in education tech
is one of the many things that educators can do to help and support kids as they grow into young adults. We know from experience that what feels futuristic one day is commonplace the next.
Cloud-based platforms Education technology (edtech) is no longer optional. It’s the norm when schools want to provide the best learning environments for students, the greatest communication for parents and the most efficient way of working for educators and managers.
Cloud-based platforms speak to all of these needs. Online platforms such as a Google Workspace for Education enable teachers to offer online learning and assessment options. Over the past 18 months this has become a necessity, with so many of our children learning from home. Cloud-based e-tech platforms also allow schools to communicate with parents, teachers and colleagues, and streamline management processes and planning.
Tracking learning and outcomes Let’s be honest: teachers have a BIG job. Lesson plans, teaching, assessments, marking, liaising with parents, liaising with other teachers, management roles…the list is endless. Anything that makes teachers' lives easier is surely a trend we want to support. Say hello to learning analytics. Propelled by a lack of time and resources, coupled with a greater
demand for accountability, educators are using learning analytics to discover how students are tracking, and using that data to improve processes and outcomes. A fairly new trend in education, analysing data to improve performance is a proven tool in other industries, and one that’s likely to grow in presence and importance in education over the coming years. Google Workspace for Education generates hundreds of pieces of
data every day and being able to capture and access this information has many benefits. Data analytics can give senior leaders the tools to make smarter, evidence based decisions on teaching and learning that connects insights with results. With technology becoming more complex and budgets stretched,
having tangible evidence to support decision making is critical. Knowing how Google Workspace is being used by staff and students, for example how many assignments have been set and by who or how many students have logged on and completed work and what grade attainment levels are like are just some of the valuable pieces of data that is captured within Google.
Data analytical tools Software such as GSync Explorer can access this data, help build a picture of how successful Google Workspace is and if students are engaged. This can help teachers and senior leaders develop a more personalised learning experience while also helping to prevent ‘at risk’ students from falling behind. Data that has been captured by GSync Explorer can help flag up issues such as poor connectivity or feelings of isolation, prompting further investigation. As schools enter their recovery phase, data intelligence will become
even more important, giving senior leaders granular insights into performance and outcomes while also identifying areas for improvement and can give schools the ability to tailor student support and learning, whether it’s delivered in the classroom or not.
www.gsync.uk 14
www.education-today.co.uk
National Staff Wellbeing Survey confirms “It’s all about the boss!” (or “It’s all about culture!”, or “It’s all about leadership!”)
Welbee have just released the findings of their National Staff Wellbeing Survey. 7,902 school staff members took part, answering nearly 300,000 questions and providing 500 pages of comments. The Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards were used to
compare scores across geographies, sectors, phases and job roles. This allowed the measurement of workplace wellbeing and how well leaders manage the risks of workplace stress. There really has never been a better time for leaders to focus on their own
wellbeing and that of those they lead. The report shows it’s time to properly put staff first, as the only sustainable way of achieving the consistent pupil outcomes needed and the catch up planned. Since March 2020, we have had to navigate the many Covid related risks,
learn new skills, and everyone in education has done a fantastic job continuing to support their students. Many feel, with justification, they have not been recognised for the work they have done. What the last year has brought is a greater focus on wellbeing, and while
pupils still get most column inches, many leaders and boards are looking to improve the support they give their staff too.
Some key findings from the survey • School and college staff score comparatively lower than those across other sectors in two of the six Management Standards; Demands and Control. Workload and flexibility remain two big challenges. • They score comparatively higher in three Standards; Role, Peer Support and Relationships. Given the challenges faced, it is important we celebrate how well staff have pulled together during such uncertain times. • Staff working in SEN schools recorded the highest scores of any sector. This may be counter intuitive given the additional demands staff face. Greater 1-1 support and ‘purpose’ from supporting vulnerable students could be reasons for this. • While staff in secondary schools gave the lowest overall scores, there is little significant difference across phases and sectors, with the exception of SEN schools. This includes between Local Authority maintained schools and Academies, suggesting many Multi-Academy Trusts may not be delivering staff benefits that economies of scale could bring them. • Staff in Independent schools score similarly to staff in others schools in most Standards, with the exception of SEN schools, though they score comparatively higher for Control (greater autonomy) and comparatively lower for Change. • Support staff have the overall highest scores, followed by teachers and middle leaders, with Senior leaders lowest. This suggests they experience the greatest workplace stress and lowest wellbeing. Leader wellbeing and retention needs to be an important focus for boards and government.
One of the biggest overall conclusions we can draw is that staff wellbeing is not about the sector or phase of the school or college, it is about how well it is led. It’s like building a house and laying the right foundations. This means
establishing effective behaviours and having the right supporting processes in place, so staff always feel valued and supported. Too many leaders start building from the first floor up. They provide cakes,
yoga and other activities, limited training or wellbeing days as their solution. It’s understandable as it is easier to treat symptoms and apply sticking plasters, rather than addressing the real causes. Yet, if a staff member does not feel valued or supported, does not enjoy
their job, then after they have eaten their cake or undertaken activities, what has changed? It is all about culture. Leaders should systemise how they improve
wellbeing and make sure it is simply something that happens every day. While the Department for Education’s new Staff Wellbeing Charter is aimed at English state schools, and is voluntary, the commitments set out provide a strong framework to follow.
Download the survey at
https://schools.welbee.co.uk/national-staff- survey-report-download
September 2021
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