‘Making sure that people are in a good place is draining, and nobody does that for me’: the pandemic and its ongoing impact on teachers and headteachers

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Introduction Due to the Covid−19 pandemic, education provision was significantly disrupted for two academic years. Schools saw an increase in their workload and scope of their responsibilities which impacted staff members physically, mentally and professionally. This study examines how the pandemic and school disruptions impacted teachers and other staff members, and their continued experience since all restrictions have been lifted. Methods Twenty-three staff members were interviewed in the 2021/2022 academic year and nine staff members in the 2023/2024 academic year using semi-structured online interviews. Results Results showed that the pandemic was challenging for staff members with their well-being and workload significantly affected. Even though restrictions in England were lifted in the summer of 2021, staff members are still struggling with the effects of the pandemic, as well as emerging post-pandemic challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. Discussion Findings from these interviews suggest that the impact of the pandemic has been long-term and highlight the need to include staff members in any discussions regarding recovery plans. These findings also emphasise the importance of prioritising sustainable support systems and resources for staff members to ensure the resilience and effectiveness of the education sector.