We must pause and contemplate the most efficient and productive method for managing our workloads.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Cowley. With nearly 30 years in the classroom, many years on SLT and eight as Deputy Headteacher, Andrew draws upon his experience of teaching in every year group across the primary school range and upon leadership of a number of subject areas and a range of initiatives in changing educational times. Andrew now supports the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools as a coach, both on the School Mental Health Award and on the Senior Designated Mental Health Leader programme.

He also serves as chair of governors at a primary school in his local area. Andrew speaks at live events and on podcasts and webinars as well as being a guest blogger for a number of educational and mental health providers. Andrew is a twice published author with Bloomsbury Education: The Wellbeing Toolkit discusses strategies for leading staff wellbeing in schools; The Wellbeing Curriculum sets the case for why and how we can embed wellbeing across our primary schools. He is in the final stages of writing his third book, The School Mental Health Toolkit, due for publication in 2025.

Andrew and I discussed:

• How educators can effectively balance planning and resourcing to ensure optimal learning outcomes for students.
• Tactics to prevent the constant struggle of grading and providing feedback.
• How to assure educators that small, sustainable steps will have a meaningful impact when it may seem like progress is moving very slowly.
• Number one piece of advice for educators in relation to their workload.
• And much more!

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:
Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg
Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Connect with Andrew:
LinkedIn: Andrew Cowley
X: Andrew Cowley
Website: Healthy Toolkit
Email: andrewcowley23@gmail.com