How to maintain a healthy mind and school culture during periods of challenge

This toolkit is designed to help school leaders (including senior mental health leads) maintain a healthy mind and school culture during challenging situations such as inspections. It includes exercises, tools and tips to help school leaders implement healthy habits that support their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of their team.  

The toolkit is divided into three sections: 

• building a healthy mind and culture to deal with challenges and stress 

• the challenge itself – the pressure of being under stress 

• managing the after-effects. 

Two videos are also available: the first helps school leaders to regain calm while they’re handling a stressful situation; the second helps them support their team during periods of challenge. 

The toolkit signposts to a range of other resources, as well sources of support school staff can reach out to if they need someone to talk to. 

Using this resource

This resource is designed for: 

• use by leaders working in any school setting. 

Learning outcomes

This resource addresses the following learning outcomes: 

• Access and utilising tools, strategies and resources to support their own mental health so school leaders can look after themselves. 

• Share simple evidence-based strategies and exercises with staff and students to help them manage their mental health and develop their own coping strategies.