The NUT and other teachers’ unions have worked in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive, Bradford Council and Education Bradford to devise a system for Risk Assessment for Stress in schools.

All primary Heads have now had training, and the training will be offered to Secondary Heads very soon.

It has been emphasised to Headteachers that they have a statutory duty to conduct a Risk Assessment for stress.

The HSE and Bradford Council staff will be visiting a selection of schools to look at their Stress Risk Assessment Process and to offer additional support.

What Happens Next?

To start with, all staff, or at least staff representatives, must be consulted about what they think the stressors are in the school. You may even be asked to complete a questionnaire.

It is essential that any stress risk assessment is not just a document but a process that enables practical steps to be taken to make a real difference so our jobs become less stressful. We need to:

• Make sure staff are consulted.
• Make sure there is a process, not just a piece of paper.
• Make sure issues get raised that need to be.
• Make sure there are solutions which really will help, not make things worse or have no effect.
• Make sure genuine reviews take place.

Please tell us about any successes, we can disseminate them.

This process should begin in the near future at your school. If you are not satisfied that things are beginning to move, please ring the office.