Teachers to gather for annual conference to discuss mental health and pupil wellbeing

Teachers from across the UK, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar will be gathering in Birmingham for the Annual Conference of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, over the Easter weekend.

The issues to be debated have been selected by a ballot of all of the Union’s teacher and headteacher members.

Issues due to be discussed include the teacher supply crisis, the mental health of teachers, workload and pupil behaviour.

Also high the agenda, are issues surrounding curriculum reform, teachers’ pay, special educational needs and school funding.

Over the course of the Conference, the NASUWT will be issuing a number of reports on issues including school buildings, special and additional needs education, the wellbeing of children and young people and the harassment of teachers.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “The NASUWT is the voice of teachers. Our priorities and concerns are teachers’ priorities. They choose the issues to be debated.

“The issue which topped the ballot this year is teachers’ mental health and wellbeing.

“This regrettably comes as no surprise as our evidence shows the toll that excessive workload, lack of resources, and poor management practices are taking on the health of teachers.

“The deep concerns of teachers about the wellbeing of pupils are evident in the motions, particularly in terms of special educational needs.

“The impact of curriculum reforms on pupils and the growing concerns about pupil indiscipline are also highlighted.

“Governments and employers would do well to start to listen to the voice of teachers and take seriously their concerns.”