How to monitor and support headteacher and CEO wellbeing

As a chair, be clear on how you can monitor your headteacher or CEO’s wellbeing, and make sure they feel supported.

Last reviewed on 22 August 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 31252
Contents
  1. Have regular meetings
  2. Check how they're coping
  3. Audit for potential stressors
  4. Spot the signs that they need help
  5. Know where to get further support 

Our associate education experts Keith Clover and Pete Crockett helped us with this article.

Have regular meetings

Ideally, at the beginning of the academic year you'll have:

  • Decided how you’ll communicate
    • Phone, email, video call – whatever you and your headteacher or CEO choose should be tailored to how they work best
  • Set a schedule
    • This should be based on when they'd prefer to be contacted, including the time of day and how often
    • Try and establish the same weekly/fortnightly slot, so you’re both clear on what’s expected and no one feels overloaded
    • Have wellbeing as an agenda item in your 1-to-1 meetings 

Aside from wellbeing, you’ll talk about other things too. If you're a chair at a maintained school or the chair of a local governing body (LGB), find out what else you might cover and how to make