Fixing the Foundations of Staff Wellbeing

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I sit down with Sahreen, an experienced executive headteacher and director of Teaching School Hubs, to unpack the powerful concept of visible leadership in education. Drawing on her deep leadership and frontline experience, Sahreen explains why tackling burnout and stress in schools requires more than just well-being initiatives—it demands a holistic, strategic approach based on four key pillars: leadership, behaviour, marking and feedback, and sustainable well-being.We explore why visible, courageous, and child-centred leadership is essential, especially during those high-pressure times like the end of term. Sahreen shares how leadership teams can build authenticity, mutual support, and safe spaces to manage stress effectively. We also dive into behaviour management, with a focus on supporting staff who face challenging students. Sahreen challenges traditional marking and feedback practices and advocates for evidence-informed, even AI-supported, approaches to reduce workload. Finally, we discuss how well-being is both personal and strategic, highlighting the importance of flexibility, empathy, and teaching soft skills like prioritisation and setting boundaries. This episode is essential listening for school leaders and educators who want to lead sustainably and thrive in their roles.Connect with Sahreen Sadquie:Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahreen-siddiqui-a00634b3/Follow me on:1. Instagram: @rowenaphicks2. Facebook: Rowena Hicks3. Linked In: Rowena HicksEmail me: [email protected] my website for Books, Journals, Free Community and lots of other interesting stuff: www.rowenahicks.com