So, when I return in September, my door will remain open and I will remain compassionate to the daily stresses and strains of teaching in the UK in 2018, as well as to the numerous challenges which simply bringing human brings to my colleagues.

From a selfish point of view, it pays dividends to have a happy workforce, and from an altruistic point of view, who wouldn’t want their staff to be happy? But why do some schools have high levels of teacher satisfaction, whereas others seem like dire places to work? This blog will share insights into what factors contribute to a happy workforce and how you can put the research into action.

Sally, now 20, believes her mental distress should have been spotted years before she received treatment that helped her. She says she became ill when she first started secondary school. Teachers noticed, describing her as “an odd child”, but in the end it was Sally herself who had to ask her doctor for help and she was 16 and on the edge of suicide before she got any effective treatment. “If the government is serious about improving children’s mental health services it needs to guarantee increased long term funding and place more emphasis on preventing mental health problems from developing.”

I have tried to be supportive without micromanaging, whilst still quality assuring what we do as we are setting our own standards in each new task, process and system we create. I also plan to expose them to some of the areas of Headship that you do not experience as a Deputy Headteacher. Why do we have hidden aspects of the role? There are areas of my role I could have been better prepared for had I known what I needed to know. The 3 of us are really different but our experiences, qualities, skill sets and personalities compliment one another well.

Two out of three councils in England providing nursery services do not employ any men, How can diversity in the profession be improved?

“A lot of men don’t see it as a man’s job and a lot of men are not aware that the role even exists,” Jamel Campbell, who started teaching the under-fives 16 years ago, told Victoria Derbyshire.

When I reflect on my years as a teacher and school leader I definitely worked long hours. Workload is not a new problem. With me it was as much self-inflicted and a reflection of my own faults as part of a prevailing culture. I therefore apologise if pots and kettles come to mind as I write this. Brian Lightman offers his thoughts on the causes and solutions to the problem of teacher workload.

I just don’t believe what happens in some schools….

So, why do so many meetings go wrong or are just plainly a waste of everyone’s time? To answer that question we must first understand that there are different types of people in meetings and understanding their behaviour and motivation is key to ensuring the meeting is effective.

If you are a senior or middle leader, head of phase or department then think of a colleague who meets the criteria and nominate them. I’m sure there are thousands out there. Look around and think again how extraordinary the staff are in your school.

The very least we can do is thank teachers for all their hard work and care of the children in schools across the country.

Is it ever right to humiliate a pupil in the classroom? For a minority of teachers it becomes, like sarcasm, something they make use of in the belief that it is either humorous, effective control or even motivating.