In "The Wellbeing Toolkit", Andrew Cowley draws on his own experience as a school leader to challenge myths about wellbeing and offer practical strategies for a positive working atmosphere.
He makes the case for a culture of positivity and self-care. Staff are encouraged to take ownership of their wellbeing through healthy habits, with support for stressful situations. By considering the needs of teachers and staff, leaders can reduce workload, manage stress and support people through difficult circumstances.
The book takes a whole-school view and argues that staff wellbeing needs strategic thought: understanding staff, what motivates them and what affects their confidence. Cowley argues that this improves staff attendance and retention and can rekindle teachers' love of the job.
It is practical, with strategies leaders can put in place, and challenges traditional thinking by putting staff wellbeing first. Useful for any leader working on staff wellbeing and resilience.
Who it is for
Headteachers, senior leaders and wellbeing leads planning a whole-school approach to staff wellbeing. The publisher's description says it also covers more stressful events, such as a bereavement, as well as day-to-day workload and stress. The publisher does not list the myths the book challenges, so we have not named them here.
In England the Department for Education's education staff wellbeing charter sets out commitments schools can sign up to; the book gives leaders practical ideas, not a route to meeting the charter.
About the book
- Author: Andrew Cowley, a former school leader and co-founder of Healthy Toolkit.
- Publisher: Bloomsbury. Published 16 May 2019; paperback, 192 pages, ISBN 9781472961655; ebook ISBN 9781472961631.
Sources: Bloomsbury's description as listed on OverDrive (Bloomsbury's own site blocked our check) and a bookseller listing for the paperback ISBN and page count. Checked 13 October 2026.