GENERAL NEWS NEWS...
LbQ whitepaper calls for ‘human-first’ approach to wellbeing in schools
An alternative take on improving wellbeing in schools has been shared by Charlie Burley, also known as The Teachers’ Health Coach, in conjunction with education specialist Learning by Questions (LbQ). In a recent whitepaper based on research from University of Oxford, TES, NASUWT and Education Support, the former teacher and wellbeing expert suggests that schools are at a tipping point and wellbeing needs to be prioritised now more than ever.
86 per cent of teachers say their job has adversely impacted their
mental health in the last 12 months (NASUWT, 2024) and 77 per cent of staff show symptoms of poor mental health (Education Support 2024). “With schools facing the funding crisis, rising expectations and unprecedented pupil needs, teachers and senior leaders are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Whilst this often leads to our eye being taken off the ball in terms of wellbeing, this is exactly the time when looking after our mental health is so important,” says Charlie Burley, The Teachers’ Health Coach.
Token gestures such as annual wellbeing days, yoga sessions and staff treats don’t go far enough the whitepaper suggests. Instead, a ‘human- first approach’ is proposed, based on psychology, biology and social
science expertise, that focuses on appreciating basic human needs and developing a school-wide culture of being well.
“The best schools are those that not only reduce workload and cut unnecessary admin, but also those that invest in trust and connection and put wellbeing at the heart of their culture – for the benefit of staff and the children,” adds Charlie.
The ‘Rewriting Wellbeing’ whitepaper also outlines how poor staff wellbeing not only impacts on pupil outcomes, but also on stretched financial budgets, due to increased staff absences and turnover. For a school of 60 teachers, the direct salary loss from absence equates to £47,000 annually based on average teacher pay. A typical turnover of 6–7 teachers per school per year also equates to an estimated average of £68,000 per school annually in recruitment and retraining costs (University of Oxford, 2023).
Data shows that the biggest driver of stress for staff is workload, with 60 per cent describing it as “unmanageable” (NASUWT, 2024). The whitepaper suggests that changes to daily practices could play a significant part in improving the situation by removing workload at its root and automating the tasks that take up teachers’ evenings and weekends. “Now is the time for bold change,” says Greg Adam, Managing Director of LbQ. “The way forward doesn’t need to lie in doing more – it’s about doing things differently. Being more efficient and effective will enable us to reimagine education and ensure wellbeing is central to culture within all schools.”
To learn more on ‘Rewriting Wellbeing’ and find out about real-life cases studies of schools that have successfully applied the approach, visit
www.LbQ.org/teacherwellbeingpaper
apetito launches free Mission Nutrition lesson plans
Educating children on the benefits of a healthy diet has never been so important. Childhood obesity is a significant health issue, with it estimated that today in England, one in three children will be obese or overweight when they finish primary school.
Receiving good nutrition during childhood lays the foundation for a healthy life, but it is education about food that truly empowers children to make informed choices and foster lifelong healthy habits. To help support schools provide pupils with effective and impactful food education, school meals provider, apetito have launched a suite of free lesson plans titled ‘Mission Nutrition’. The first in the series are a set of Key Stage Two Lesson plans, which are now available for all schools partnering with apetito.
These have been created by apetito’s in-house Dietitians, Chefs and Nutritionists with the aim of creating educational content in line with the national curriculum that support teachers when delivering lessons on food and nutrition.
Head Development Chef at apetito, Jethro Lawrence explains why 10
www.education-today.co.uk November 2025
educating pupils about food is so critical: “It is so important for our children to be educated about how nutritious food can be delicious. The benefit of knowing where certain ingredients come from can help develop important life skills. Food knowledge promotes healthy eating habits, enhances cognitive skills, encourages children to try new flavours and builds their confidence around food.”
Rupert Weber, General Manager for Education at apetito, says: “As a company with lots of in-house nutritional and dietetic expertise, we are passionate about supporting schools to effectively educate their pupils on food and nutrition.
“Children spend a considerable amount of their time at school, which makes it the ideal place for them to learn about nutrition and foster good food habits. Through the Mission Nutrition resources, we want to support and empower teachers to give pupils a hands-on understanding of the importance of having a balanced diet, and ultimately, ensure that pupils develop healthy eating habits to support their health and wellbeing.”
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