HEP Talks: The Wellbeing Equation: Why Happy Staff Stay with Iona Jackson

Teacher and staff retention in schools and academies has been a top priority for quite some time now, as England faces lower-than-ever teacher recruitment numbers and droves of education professionals have left the industry in search of higher pay and lower stress. But what exactly are the key drivers of this problem? And more importantly, what’s the trick for making staff stay?

In this episode of HEP Talks, host Luke Kemper speaks with Iona Jackson, Director of Strategy at Edurio, to dive into two educationally pressing issues – staff wellbeing and retention. Together, they unpack data from Edurio’s surveys of academy staff across England, discussing the impact of workload, leadership dynamics, and wellbeing on staff retention. Iona reveals how factors like stress, excitement about work, and the role of school leadership contribute to teachers’ decisions to stay or leave the profession. They also cover disparities in wellbeing across age groups, roles, and protected characteristics, offering practical recommendations for school leaders to address these critical challenges and create healthier, more supportive environments for staff.

Iona explains that while educators often find great meaning in their work, there are growing concerns around wellbeing. According to Edurio’s data, less than 40% of staff report feeling well at work, with stress and overwork being significant factors. Yet, interestingly, despite these pressures, many teachers still express excitement about their jobs, indicating a strong sense of purpose. This emotional dichotomy—feeling overwhelmed but passionate—seems to lie at the heart of the wellbeing challenge in schools.

Retention is closely tied to wellbeing. The report reveals that more than 50% of teachers have considered resigning, with workload, stress, and leadership dynamics being the primary drivers. The conversation confirmed the often-repeated notion that people leave managers, not jobs—highlighting the critical role leadership plays in fostering a supportive environment. Iona discusses how strong, communicative leadership can directly influence staff morale, engagement, and ultimately, retention.

For school leaders, the takeaway is clear: focusing on wellbeing is essential for keeping staff happy and engaged. One practical suggestion came from Iona, who shared an inspiring story about a school leader who asked his staff to list all the tasks they do that feel unnecessary or burdensome. If there wasn’t a good reason for those tasks, they were eliminated, helping reduce stress and refocus energy on what really matters — teaching and learning.

This is a great listen for educators, school leaders, and policymakers looking to better understand staff wellbeing and its close link to teacher retention.

As always, we hope you enjoy listening to the full interview on HEP Talks, which can be found on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you have a topic that you’re interested in or want to talk about on our podcast, please send an email to luke.kemper@haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk and you might get featured on an upcoming episode. Stay tuned to HEP Talks!

Luke Kemper is Insight and Intelligence Lead at HEP. He recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in Education, Globalisation and International Development. Before that, he worked for seven years as a university lecturer and high school teacher in China and Poland.