Staff Wellbeing & Ofsted
A structured group coaching programme designed to help teachers and support staff manage stress, protect their wellbeing and build resilience – while giving leaders clear, inspection-ready evidence that staff wellbeing is taken seriously under the latest Ofsted framework.
• Creates a confidential, reflective space for staff to process pressure and workload • Builds practical strategies for managing stress and boundaries • Strengthens relationships and psychological safety across teams • Provides clear, qualitative evidence of your staff wellbeing offer for Ofsted
Sessions are facilitated by Dr Caroline Bligh, integrating professional coaching and therapeutic approaches tailored to the realities of school and college life.
Under the current Ofsted inspection framework, leaders are expected to show that they actively consider and support staff wellbeing. Inspectors look at workload, the emotional impact of the role and whether staff feel listened to and protected from bullying and harassment.
This group coaching offer has been designed with those expectations in mind. It gives you:
Many schools and colleges are now looking for practical, humane ways to respond to the growing scrutiny around staff mental health. Group coaching offers a supportive, sustainable option that respects staff as professionals and people.
The exact structure can be tailored to your setting, but a typical staff wellbeing coaching programme might include:
6–8 small-group sessions (6–10 staff per group) over one or two terms.
90-minute sessions focused on reflection, learning and practical actions.
Separate groups for teaching staff, support staff or leaders (if helpful).
Online or onsite delivery scheduled around your timetable.
Optional 1:1 follow-up for staff who would benefit from deeper individual support.
Before the programme starts, we'll agree clear aims, referral criteria (if needed) and how you want to use the learning to inform your wider staff wellbeing strategy.
Each group is different – the agenda is co-created with participants so that coaching is relevant to their lived experience in your school or college.
This programme is designed for schools and colleges that:
While coaching is not a quick fix, many schools notice a shift in staff morale and language around wellbeing even within the first few sessions.
A key part of this offer is helping you turn the lived experience of staff into respectful, anonymised evidence that can be used in leadership discussions and Ofsted inspections, without compromising confidentiality.
Depending on your needs, this might include:
This gives you a strong narrative when inspectors ask, 'How do you know your approach to staff wellbeing is making a difference?' – with real stories and measurable indicators to draw on.
No. This is a coaching-based intervention that may draw on therapeutic understanding, but it is not a substitute for counselling or clinical support. When appropriate, staff are encouraged to access other wellbeing or mental health services alongside coaching.
Psychological safety is central to effective staff wellbeing coaching. The content of conversations is kept confidential within the group, with only anonymised themes shared back to leadership unless there are safeguarding concerns.
Yes – the programme can be timed to support staff ahead of, during or after an inspection period. However, the biggest impact tends to come when staff wellbeing is supported consistently over time, not just in the run-up to a visit.
Costs depend on group size, number of cohorts and whether sessions are online or onsite. Many schools fund the programme from their staff wellbeing, CPD or mental health budgets. Please get in touch to discuss a structure that fits your context and resources.
The first step is a short conversation to understand your setting, your current staff wellbeing offer and your priorities for the coming year. From there, we'll co-design a programme that feels realistic for staff and meaningful for your Ofsted readiness.
If you'd like to explore staff wellbeing group coaching for your school or college, please get in touch. We can talk through what's happening in your setting and shape a programme that genuinely supports your staff.
Book a conversation about staff wellbeing