Speaker: Maria Brosnan, managing director of Pursuit, a counsellor, coach, author and speaker; the heart rate variability approach she describes is Pursuit's own. This is general wellbeing information, not medical advice. Published 10 March 2023.

What this covers

  • Why chronic stress matters for headteachers, including its link with heart disease.
  • Checking in with yourself regularly, and how to measure heart rate variability.
  • Stressors in the role, such as high-stakes inspection and workload, and their link with leaders leaving the profession.
  • Pursuit's three-pillar approach to heart rate variability and biofeedback, developed with GP Dr Carla Stanton.

Before you act on it

If stress is affecting your health, speak to your GP. The DfE's education staff wellbeing charter sets out commitments schools and employers can make on staff and leader wellbeing.

About the session

Webinar: "Getting to the Heart of Chronic Stress for Headteachers"

Lucy is joined by Maria Brosnan, a counsellor, coach, author, and speaker, the webinar focuses on promoting the health and wellbeing of teachers, school leaders, and all school staff.

They discuss:

The session quotes a figure of 84% of headteachers reporting stress (the survey is not named in our record), and links chronic stress with coronary heart disease. Maria encourages participants to check in with themselves regularly and offers practical advice on how to measure heart rate variability, a key indicator of heart health.

With a range of stressors affecting head teachers, including high stakes inspections, crushing workloads, and more, the session quotes 59% as looking to leave the profession (again, the source is not named in our record). But there are ways to reduce stress, such as James Newman's training.

Maria Brosnan, managing director of Pursuit, has worked with Dr. Carla Stanton, a GP functional medicine doctor, to develop what Pursuit describes as a three-pillar approach to heart and heart rate variability research, using biofeedback technology.

The webinar is about how to prioritise your own health and wellbeing as a school leader.