Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, 15th-19th May
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Theme is anxiety. Anxiety among teachers in the UK is a concern that has garnered attention in recent years. Teachers face numerous factors that can contribute to anxiety, including high workloads, pressures related to student achievement, challenging student behaviour, accountability measures, and limited resources.
Early Career Teachers (ECTs) are particularly susceptible to experiencing anxiety due to various factors associated with their initial years in the profession. The transition from being a trainee teacher to a fully independent classroom instructor can be overwhelming and challenging for some, leading to heightened levels of anxiety among ECTs.
Addressing anxiety among ECTs is crucial for their professional development and overall well-being. Promoting a culture of support and collaboration within schools can also help alleviate anxiety by creating a nurturing environment for ECTs to seek guidance and share experiences with colleagues.
Our new Mentoring Programme is designed to offer informal support alongside school-based mentoring. Having someone to speak to outside of the school environment, who understands the pressures of starting a teaching career, provides a space for ECTs to be open about how they are feeling and the support they might need. Working in partnership with ECTs and schools across London, our mentors can help teachers through the induction period and kick-start their teaching careers.
To find out more about our Mentoring programme, please call Marianne on 0207 430 7120 or email community@visionteaching.co.uk
Marianne Pattison
Vision Teaching
