Teacher resilience: Long-serving teachers' perspectives on factors which have sustained them in their careers
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Sch of Education and Lifelong Learning
Abstract
This proposal is for a research project investigating teacher resilience, and in
particular the role of initial teacher training and early career support in resilience
development. This topic is investigated through the perspectives of secondary school
teachers who are five to ten years post qualification: teachers viewed as "survivors",
having successfully navigated their early careers. Teaching is regarded as a highly
stressful occupation, and concerns have been raised about the significant numbers of
teachers leaving the profession, especially in the early years after qualification, as
well as the impact on teacher health and wellbeing. A mixed methods research design
has been chosen, which is considered in detail, as well as the potential limitations and
challenges of completing the project. The anticipated impact of the research is also
discussed: it is hoped that this project will contribute to a better understanding of
professional resilience, and that it will support the development of policy and practice
in initial training and early career support for teachers. It is also hoped that this
project contributes to the wider understanding of resilience development, which may
be helpful for other emotionally demanding professions, as well as adding to the
emerging understanding of this complex topic.
particular the role of initial teacher training and early career support in resilience
development. This topic is investigated through the perspectives of secondary school
teachers who are five to ten years post qualification: teachers viewed as "survivors",
having successfully navigated their early careers. Teaching is regarded as a highly
stressful occupation, and concerns have been raised about the significant numbers of
teachers leaving the profession, especially in the early years after qualification, as
well as the impact on teacher health and wellbeing. A mixed methods research design
has been chosen, which is considered in detail, as well as the potential limitations and
challenges of completing the project. The anticipated impact of the research is also
discussed: it is hoped that this project will contribute to a better understanding of
professional resilience, and that it will support the development of policy and practice
in initial training and early career support for teachers. It is also hoped that this
project contributes to the wider understanding of resilience development, which may
be helpful for other emotionally demanding professions, as well as adding to the
emerging understanding of this complex topic.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Vivienne Baumfield (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Alison Pearson (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000630/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1928093 | Studentship | ES/P000630/1 | 01/10/2017 | 12/10/2021 | Alison Pearson |
| Description | My emergent findings have been used to inform student teachers on PGCE programmes about the kinds of support that might be helpful in their future careers, and how to consider issues of balance and self-help. My emerging findings are also being discussed with participant schools about how they can support their teachers. Further impacts will arise after completion of my project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Proteach workshop with teacher educators affecting the way they support trainees |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | BERA presentation on what sustains teachers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the BERA conference discussing preliminary findings about what sustains teachers and use of timelines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Online workshop on thriving as a new teacher |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Online workshop event for PCGE student teachers on "Thriving as a new teacher" directly informed by my research of the literature. Participants have reported how it had made them think about things they can do when they start teaching. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | PGCE sports student workshops on resilience and thriving |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | PGCE sports student teachers from the university took part in two practical workshops on "Thriving as a new teacher" and "Building your resilience" directly informed by my research of the literature. Participants reported how it had made them think about things they can do when they start teaching, and the PGCE sports lead has reported that this has led to discussions with trainees throughout the year about building their capacity for resilience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation on literature review mapping |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on a novel way of literature mapping. A number of audience members approached me afterwards for more information and copies of my slides to follow up. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Research tea on teacher resilience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research tea discussing preliminary findings about what sustains teachers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Resilience workshop for Proteach students and teacher educators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Student teachers and teacher trainers from Israel took part in a practical workshop on "Building resilience as a new teacher" directly informed by my research of the literature. Teacher educator participants reported how it had made them think about how to support new teachers, and students reported that it had built on their learning from the first workshop to think about things they can do when they start teaching. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | SWDTP Conference presentation on engaging research participants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | SWDTP presentation on engaging participants in a sustained way through communication and their involvement in the research process |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Teaching workshop for ProTeach student teachers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Student teachers from Israel took part in a practical workshop on "Thriving as a new teacher" directly informed by my research of the literature. Participants reported how it had made them think about things they can do when they start teaching. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Workshops at Honiton Community College to support action research projects |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Workshop session with staff at Honiton Community College supporting them in designing action research projects |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |