Teacher burnout is on the rise and is becoming more of a concern to teachers, senior leaders and educational establishments. The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024 found that 78% of all staff are stressed, which increases to 84% for senior leaders.
Contents
- What is burnout?
- Why does burnout affect teachers?
- What are the symptoms of teacher burnout?
- Causes of teacher burnout
- Impacts of teacher burnout
- How to avoid teacher burnout
What is burnout?
'Burnout' refers to a state of physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion caused by chronic or prolonged stress exposure. The demanding nature of teaching, with its continuous cycle of marking, planning and behaviour management, often contributes to this condition.
Why does burnout affect teachers?
Around 49% of teachers reported that heavy workloads impacted their wellbeing. Feeling underappreciated also affected staff, with 55% saying this increased stress levels.
Additionally, 82% of staff who say challenging behaviour has increased this year report that this negatively impacted their mental health. Knowing exactly what teacher burnout is and how to avoid it could help you improve your work-life balance and support you in reducing stress levels.
What are the symptoms of teacher burnout?
The symptoms of teacher burnout will vary for each individual, but there are some common areas that teachers, senior leaders and support staff often cite as being particularly significant:
- Increased exhaustion: Consistent periods of extreme tiredness (both physical and emotional) that can manifest as mood swings, irritability, insomnia or poor concentration. These are signals that your body cannot recover from prolonged stress.
- Negative feelings: Growing frustration and detachment from your school and students, or difficulty completing work tasks. Recognising these emotions and understanding their source can help regain perspective.
- Decreased job confidence: Feeling you're not making sufficient progress or impact with students. Comparing yourself to colleagues can undermine confidence, when valuing your own teaching strengths would be more beneficial.
- Physical impacts: Manifestations such as headaches, stomach issues, frequent colds or sleep problems. These physical symptoms often develop gradually and are directly connected to your stress levels.
Causes of teacher burnout
People may wonder: What is the number one cause of teacher burnout? Every teacher who feels stressed or exhausted will likely have been affected by personal circumstances. However, common factors reported to cause teachers’ stress include:
- Workload: Lesson planning, meeting academic standards, exam targets, and extensive paperwork create a heavy workload for teachers.
- Lack of support: Teachers often need extra support to help students with additional needs, but increasing curriculum pressures restrict this. Additionally, 51% of surveyed teachers feel they aren't supported within their school.
- Pay and financial strain: The cost of living crisis has put significant pressure on public sector workers, including teachers, whose pay hasn't kept pace with rising prices.
- Student behaviour: Increasing classroom disruption, reported by 57% of staff, requires significant energy for management, contributing to frustration and burnout.
- Testing, assessment and exams: Primary and secondary teachers must manage high-stakes assessments that impact school results and reputation. The extensive preparation required for these exams creates additional stress that can lead to burnout.
- Lack of control: The absence of autonomy over workloads, challenging student behaviour or changing timetables can make teachers feel they lack command over their work, contributing to burnout over time.
Discover eight practical strategies that can help you reduce stress in our article Managing teacher stress: practical tips & strategies.
Impacts of teacher burnout
When teachers, senior leaders or support staff experience burnout, they often face significant visible and invisible effects:
- Decreased job satisfaction: Exhaustion from endless marking and paperwork erodes confidence and job satisfaction.
- Stress and anxiety: Nearly 80% of all staff in English state schools feel stressed, affecting sleep quality and work-life balance.
- Reduced confidence: Burnout often leads to self-doubt about performance and capabilities in regular responsibilities.
- Leaving the profession: Around a third of teachers reported that they had considered leaving teaching in 2025, citing high workload, stress and lack of appreciation.
- Mental or physical health problems: According to NASUWT, 86% of teacher respondents reported adverse effects on mental health, while 68% reported physical health impacts, including appetite loss, insomnia and fatigue.
How to avoid teacher burnout
Avoiding teacher burnout is vital for the health and wellbeing of teachers and other staff in schools. The following tips are equally as important for those recovering from burnout who want to regain a healthy work-life balance.
1. Seek support
Asking for some help can feel overwhelming at first but it’s a necessary step to reducing stress and anxiety. Talking to colleagues, mentors or leadership can help you realise that you’re not alone and there are practical ways to get some support and guidance.
If you feel like you don’t want to talk to someone in school, seek the advice of a mental health professional who can signpost you to resources and sources of support.
2. Prioritise self-care
If teachers are to make sure students are looked after well through their educational journey, then they need to start with looking after themselves. Teaching can blur the lines between home and school, so it’s necessary to keep firm boundaries and take time out for yourself.
Find a few things you enjoy doing that help you relax, such as walking in nature, seeing friends or having a calming bath. Making sure you sleep well is also essential to your wellbeing. Explore more self care tips and ideas in our wellbeing and self-care hub.
3. Set boundaries
Struggling with clear boundaries around your time is a common issue for many teachers. Discover some effective ways to manage your time and support a healthier perspective on work in the Teachers’ task and time management guide, free to Teachit Premium subscribers.
Setting healthy boundaries is vital for everyone, but especially teachers. Set aside time each evening where you can switch off and relax, and have a cut-off time for work emails. Browse our wellbeing CPD articles for more advice on healthy lifestyles and boundaries.
4. Wellbeing-focused professional development
If your school offers wellbeing-focused professional development, take advantage of these resources to improve your work-life balance. Consider asking leadership about group wellbeing activities to build team connections and foster a healthier work environment.
If the budget for CPD is limited, self-help strategies can provide valuable support. Explore this Teachers' wellbeing guide the get you started with teacher-focused self-care and wellbeing strategies and resources. It’s free to download for Teachit Premium subscribers.
5. Advocate for change
Sometimes, supporting others can help you feel better and bring you a new sense of perspective. Speaking to senior leaders and colleagues about what steps can be put in place to help teachers in your school reduce stress could also help you feel proactive.
6. Consider an alternative role
If you're experiencing excessive stress in your current role, consider exploring alternative options. This could be within your current school or somewhere else. You might benefit from relinquishing TLRs or additional responsibilities that are contributing to your stress. Set a monthly reminder to browse job listings so you can research positions that might better suit your needs and wellbeing.
