Supervision in Schools: The Key to Reducing Staff Burnout and Absence

The 2024/25 academic year has highlighted just how critical staff wellbeing is in schools. Stress, absence, and burnout remain at alarmingly high levels, with the knock-on effect being felt in classrooms across the country.

At CEWB, we believe one of the most powerful – and often overlooked – ways to protect staff wellbeing is through effective supervision.

The Current Landscape

Recent national surveys shine a spotlight on the scale of the challenge:

• 78% of teachers and 84% of school leaders reported being stressed in the past year (Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024, Education Support).

• Staff commonly reported symptoms of burnout including insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and low mood (Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024, Education Support).

• One in three teachers said they had experienced a mental health issue during the academic year (Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024, Education Support).

• The NASUWT’s 2024 wellbeing survey also found that nine in ten teachers had experienced more work-related stress in the past year, with many directly linking stress to sickness absence (NASUWT Teachers’ Wellbeing Survey 2024).

These figures represent a real image of our sector– teachers, leaders, and support staff – struggling to stay well in their roles. Every time a member of staff is absent, schools face disruption to learning, extra costs for cover, and increased strain on colleagues.

Why Supervision Matters

Supervision done properly can create a structured, supportive space where staff can:

• Reflect on challenging experiences.

• Access emotional support and guidance.

• Spot early warning signs of stress before they escalate into absence.

• Build resilience, confidence, and clarity in their role.

Research in education psychology has shown that reflective supervision helps staff feel valued, supported, and more capable of managing the demands of their role (edpsy.org.uk, 2020).

The Risks of No Supervision

Without effective supervision, stress can spiral unchecked. The potential impact is clear:

• Higher rates of sickness absence, particularly linked to mental health (NASUWT Teachers’ Wellbeing Survey 2024).

• Increased staff turnover and recruitment costs (Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024).

• Lower morale, which affects performance and school culture.

• Disruption to pupil learning and relationships.

Schools that neglect supervision risk losing staff... and the impact is felt by both pupils and budgets.

How CEWB Can Help

At CEWB, we specialise in helping schools build supervision structures that strengthen staff wellbeing.

Our supervision support is provided by supervisors who come from SLT backgrounds, bringing first hand experience and crucially, an understanding of the challenges faced by school leaders and the wider school team.

Our supervisors are trained in safeguarding supervision as well as having further additional training in counselling skills and mental and emotional well-being support. 

If supervision support is on your radar this year, get in touch with us at info@cewb.co.uk