The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Wellbeing of Staff and Students in our Schools

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns have had varying effects on school staff and students. Through a combination of an online survey and student focus groups, feedback was obtained about engagement with work during lockdown, what they valued most from their school leaders and teachers, suggestions for improving wellbeing and feedback about how they were managing their own personal wellbeing. After a whole school term of learning from home, the school company now has clear information regarding staff and students' enthusiasm for their work, stress, work-life balance, online connections, strategies and processes. Strategies can now be put in place to continue to support these key stakeholders through the remainder of the current lockdown and prepare them for the return of teaching our students face-to-face. This research has enabled the school company to focus its support moving forward in this pandemic and provide feedback to schools regarding their staff, and students' wellbeing at this time.