The Tes Teacher Wellbeing Report 2026 data confirms what many teachers feel daily.
The Tes Teacher Wellbeing Report 2026 collected more than 1,400 responses from UK-based teachers, trainee teachers, TAs, supply teachers, SENCOs, DSLs and school leaders in a poll conducted at the end of 2025. It aims to shine a light on conditions in schools and how they affect teacher wellbeing, as well as act as a prompt for leaders to improve the working environment to better attract and retain staff.
It’s an uphill task. Take this finding as an example: 71% of teachers now describe their workload as “unmanageable.” That’s a stark increase from 61% in 2024. Even more telling is that only about 3% of teachers report being able to work within their contracted hours.
Difficulties delivering on inclusion
Another significant finding centres on SEND provision. The majority of respondents identified that meeting the needs of SEND students is their biggest classroom challenge. Roughly half of school staff report facing major difficulties supporting those who have SEND needs but lack formal designation.
This hugely adds to their workload and diverts them from their main task of teaching. They are expected to offer differentiated instruction, complete extensive paperwork, coordinate with external agencies and provide individualised support, all while teaching the rest of their class. The data says that 75% of teachers “identified meeting diverse SEND needs within a single classroom as their primary challenge”. Tellingly, the report quotes one respondent as saying:
“To provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ for half a class is no longer reasonable.”
The ripple effect
A constant high level of individual stress and poor wellbeing directly contribute to burnout, teachers leaving early in their career and subsequent recruitment challenges for schools. When experienced educators leave the profession due to the unsustainable demands in the classroom and in the school, everyone – staff and students alike – is affected by the loss.
When 61% of teachers say they don’t plan to stay in the profession for the long haul, it’s a red flag that school cultures need to change.
Change is critical
The Tes report outlines some actions for change; things that schools must address.
Workload is the primary issue to tackle, with almost half of the workforce effectively working an extra day every week without pay. But enabling change also means having honest conversations about what’s expected and what is realistic. The two often are very far apart.
Read more in the Tes Teacher wellbeing report 2026
References
- Tes Wellbeing Report: Teachers warn of SEND and workload pressures. Available at: https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/tes-wellbeing-report-teachers-warn-send-and-workload-pressures (Accessed 18 March 2026)
