This blog post by Gemma Hargraves, Deputy Headteacher with responsibilities for wellbeing, at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire suggests ways of addressing wellbeing, but from the slant of a history teacher. Bear baiting anyone?

Teaching history can be joyful, controversial and exhausting in equal measure. From colonisation and slavery to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the content we teach can be complex and upsetting. Whilst the priority will be pupils’ progress and wellbeing, teachers must not forget their own wellbeing. It is important to take time to decompress after challenging lessons, keep sight of your purpose and manage workload. I have taken inspiration from Ruth Goodman’s book How to be a Tudor, and from my own experience as a previous Head of Year and current Deputy Headteacher overseeing wellbeing (amongst other things) to offer some brief tips.

It is important to take time out after a school day, or a busy week. Decompressing after challenging lessons will look different for each of us; this may involve talking to a colleague, taking a walk, or watching or rewatching something comforting on Netflix. Goodman suggests popular leisure activities including listening to music, storytelling, bear baiting, and theatre. Perhaps avoid bear baiting but there are still valid ideas we can take from the early modern period.

It might be tempting to use every free moment to catch up on work, but skipping breaks can quickly lead to burnout. Try to take at least one proper break during the day where you step away from your desk. Even a short reset can improve your focus and mood for the rest of the day. Eat well; food should be seasonal, fresh, and largely plant-based, as it was in Tudor England with pottage (stew) being a staple in, and meat an occasional addition for the poor. Hopefully you have a wider range of meals and snacks available but eating well and focusing on what is in season is always a good idea for freshness and sustainability.

Reconnect with your purpose – and keep those thank you cards, appreciative emails and note the high points you experience each day. If the idea of a gratitude journal or noting positives seems too time consuming or unappealing, you could scribble them in your school planner or notes app on your phone and look back at them when you need a boost. Research from the Mental Health Foundation shows expressing gratitude is good for your wellbeing so if you’re reading this as a HoD why not drop a colleague a handwritten thank you note this week – it will be appreciated. A note like this shows genuine thought and care in a way an email just does not.

Manage your marking – whilst there may well be times when marking feels overwhelming, due to assessments, book scrutinies, even impending OFSTED, you can reward yourself with little treats after each book pile, or every 10 essays. And though it’s tempting to put it off, you know it’s best to do it as soon as it comes in.

As was the case in Tudor England, strong community ties and local support networks are crucial for survival. Use your community – the Historical Association, alumni groups, any local teacher groups, WhatsApp groups with colleagues. These are your people. Take advantage of HA and other CPD whether it’s Conference, webinars or local branch events. Investing in yourself and your development, alongside colleagues, can be restorative and invigorating.

And for those history teachers reading this who are also Heads of Year, SENDCos, Pupil Premium leads… it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You can’t do it all alone. But what you do every day matters. Maintain some boundaries and look after yourself – you can’t be at your best everyday if you’re running on empty.

Support recommendations:

Education Support, supporting teachers and education staff – a helpline and website for all staff working in education.

Find accounts that make you smile on social media – whilst Twitter/ X is perhaps best avoided now, there are lots of educators sharing positivity on instagram, BlueSky and LinkedIn (and don’t forget to follow the Historical Association!)

Book recommendations from my shelves to bring joy or a new perspective:

A history of England in 25 Poems by Catherine Clarke

Black History for every day of the year by David Olusoga et al

How to be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

The Good Germans by Catrine Clay