English headteacher perspectives on school responses to protect student and staff mental wellbeing in the later stages of the Covid-19 pandemic
Bibliographic Data
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on pupils and staff in English schools. This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges schools faced and the processes they implemented to protect the mental wellbeing of students and staff in the later stages of the pandemic, focusing on January–June 2022. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Primary and secondary schools in England from April to September 2022. Method: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted using Zoom with six primary and four secondary school headteachers (or other members of the senior leadership team) in England. Results: Mental wellbeing programming for students and staff was scaled up in both primary and secondary schools amid concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic would impact on mental health. Headteachers perceived changes in the behaviour of students, including increased dysregulation, and staff struggling with fatigue and a sense of being devalued as professionals. Schools scaled up the supports they offered to students and staff, but challenges remain in maintaining such increased support due to the perceived additional needs of staff and students within the context of funding constraints. Despite initial concerns that there would be tension between promoting mental wellbeing and academic catch-up among students, headteachers identified work addressing these two priorities as synergistic. Conclusion: Mental wellbeing impacts of the pandemic on pupils and staff required increased provision of support programmes. Ongoing efforts to monitor the wellbeing needs of students and staff is required. Formal and informal methods to enhance the mental health for pupils and staff should continue into the recovery period
Context (archaeology) · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Medical education · Mental health · Pandemic · Pedagogy · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Early Childhood Education and Development · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health
Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health
The Impact of Covid-19 School Closure on Child and Adolescent Health
Covid-19 pandemic impact on children and adolescents' mental health
Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the Covid-19 outbreak
Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst Covid-19 and Past Pandemics
School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including Covid-19
Learning loss during Covid-19
Implementation of Covid ‐19 Preventive Measures and Staff Well‐Being in a Sample of English Schools 2020‐2021
Qualitative longitudinal research on the experience of implementing Covid-19 prevention in English schools
Mental Health of Teachers Who Have Teleworked Due to Covid-19
Research priorities for mental health in schools in the wake of Covid-19
The importance of school culture in supporting student mental health in secondary schools. Insights from a qualitative study
Using thematic analysis in psychology
The Impact of Enhancing Students' Social and Emotional Learning
Like a rug had been pulled from under you
| Citations per year | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |