Managing stress and change

in schools
Dai Williams, Work Psychologist

Context
Stress
Trauma and change
School management issues
Website resources

Eos Career Services www.eoslifework.co.uk

Seminar for Education London 2000 21 November 2000

 Context Schools as Learning Communities
National outcomes:
future society &
Local community economic resources
Families: & economy
parents Pupil outcomes
& children qualifications
career & life
School organisation opportunities
Past & education processes Future
Staff outcomes
Teachers income, security,
Support staff achievement,
Heads Resources:
fulfilment, health
Governors knowledge, methods
funds, facilities School outcomes:
Government, & controls culture, reputation,
professions & unions survival & development
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Stress in schools - 1
Stress occurs when pressures and demands
exceed our coping capacity and resources

Who is affected?
- students, parents
- teachers, support staff
- heads, managers, governors
- groups & management teams

What kinds of stress?

- on individuals and groups
- chronic, acute and delayed

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Stress in schools - 2

Causes Effects
Workload Mental health
Role Physical Health
Relationships Performance
Work culture Relationships
Trauma Groups
Change Personal life
Personal life Career

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 Stress zones & effects over time
Context Response

Inner peace Calm, relaxed, euphoric

Normal life: pressures balanced Motivated, positive

with resources & support

Ongoing pressures exceed Chronic stress.

Coping capacity & support Anxious, at risk

Trauma, overload Acute distress or crisis.

or delayed transition crisis Danger zone: fight or flight

Key: Normal life Stress release & calming

Ongoing stress Eos Career Services 2000
 Managing stress levels
Mental & physical
performance
Optimum
performance
High

FITNESS
Laid Anxious
Training &
Medium back problem solving
Relaxation &
stress dumping Crisis
Inactive
Low Social support
Arousal
Low Medium High level

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Trauma and change
The most severe forms of distress are often associated with
the effects of trauma and change
Major life events, good and bad, may start a period of
transition.
Transitions involve distinct phases and typically take 6-9+
months to work through.
Transitions appear to be a fundamental survival process that
enables human to adapt to radical change in our lives and
environment.
They are potentially vital growth points for personal and
career development.
Events that affect groups can result in a collective transition
period with potential crisis and recovery periods.

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The Transition Cycle

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Potential transition events in schools

Personal life events School events

(for staff or pupils) New students
Separation or loss New staff
Bereavement Promotion
Redundancy High achievement
Relocation Disciplinary action
Career change New head or principal
Family trauma Violence or accident
Accident or illness Re-organisation
Crime or justice Adverse inspection report
New IT or other systems
Use the transition cycle chart to anticipate
potential periods of crisis and recovery after these events
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School management issues
Promote a healthy work culture especially fitness & working
hours.
Anticipate risks of stress and change for students & staff.
Recognise symptoms of acute stress for individuals and
groups.
Make allowances for transition effects in sickness/absence
and disciplinary situations.
Encourage mutual support among staff & pupils.
Encourage career first aid awareness.
Allow for transition cycles when planning periods of change
and managing the aftermath of trauma.
Seek professional support for individuals & teams in crisis.

Eos Career Services 2000

Eos Life~Work website resources
More details about managing stress and change can be found on the
Eos Life~Work website at: http://www.eoslifework.co.uk

Relevant papers include (click for direct link if viewing on PC):

Career First Aid
Managing the Life~Work boundary
Transitions: managing personal and organisation change
Human responses to change
Safe and dangerous organisations
See also pages on professional networking, life~work themes and
community projects. Comments welcome on the Eos Forum, or by Email
to Dai Williams at eosuk@btinternet.com phone 01483-222017

Eos Career Services

Eos Career Services 2000