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Grace Laszlo (Bishop Challoner Catholic College) - ‘What wellbeing strategies do ECTs learn across the two years of their course, and how do these help them manage workload and mental wellbeing effectively?’.

G. Laszlo

RDL:

Dr. Andy HindLink opens in a new window

Contact:

g.laszlo@bishopchalloner.bham.sch.uk

Profile:

I have nine years experience teaching English and English Literature from KS3 to A Level. Having graduated with an English Literature degree and an MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Manchester in 2013, I completed teacher training through the Teach First graduate training route. After holding a variety of different positions in comprehensive secondary schools in Birmingham, I am currently Deputy Head of the English Department at Bishop Challoner Catholic College as well as being part of the Lead Teacher team, which aims to improve teaching and learning across the school by offering research-driven CPD to staff. My research project is in ECT well-being and mental health. From my experience working with ECTs, I am aware that Early Career Teachers suffer from challenges with wellbeing and mental health particularly acutely and this can lead to staff leaving the profession within their first five years. Across the first year, I aim to collect data about how ECTs manage wellbeing and workload in order visualise and design a model of wellbeing which articulates ways schools might better support ECTs and the ways ECTs might better look after their mental health.

Further Reading:

Education Support: Teacher Wellbeing Index 2021 - Mental Health of Education StaffLink opens in a new window

Department for Education: Reducing Workload: Supporting teachers in the early stages of their career (March 2019)Link opens in a new window

Rushton, E.A.C., Gibbons, S., Brock, R., Cao, Y., Finesilver, C., Hesketh, R., Jones, J., Manning, A., Marshall, B., Richardson, C., Steadman, S., Suh, S. and Towers, E. (2021). Supporting Early Career Teachers to Thrive in their first Year; A Guide for Schools. Kings College: London.Link opens in a new window

Rushton, E., Gibbons, S., and Hesketh, R. (2021). Understanding and mitigating the impact of Covid-19 disruption on trainee and early career teachers in secondary schools: Recommendations to ensure teacher quality and enable retention. Kings College: London.Link opens in a new window

McLean, L., Abry, T., Taylor, M., and L. Gaias (2020) The influence of adverse classroom and school experiences on first year teachers mental health and career optimism. Teacher and Teaching Education. Volume 87 (January). Article 102956.Link opens in a new window