National Survey Research Brief 2—PLD and school wide wellbeing as predictors of teacher morale and workload

Every three years, Rangahau Mātauranga o Aotearoa / New Zealand Council for Educational Research conducts the National Survey of Schools. In our most recent survey, we asked teachers and principals about everything from workload and wellbeing to the latest innovations in the classroom, providing a comprehensive summary of the state of our schools.  

This series of research briefs highlights factors that can support teachers to thrive and that will create positive experiences in the school environment.  

What does this research brief cover? 

This research brief, PLD and school-wide wellbeing as predictors of teacher morale and workload, shows how a culture of PLD and school-wide plans to manage social behaviours both enable and shape positive classroom experiences, and have positive links to overall morale levels in a school.  

Key messages: 

• Our analysis highlights the enabling role of two school-level variables (school-wide plans to manage social behaviours, and culture of ongoing PLD) in shaping teachers’ classroom practices and work experiences.
• A strong culture of ongoing PLD is positively associated with good-practice classroom strategies and practices, and is associated with teachers reporting more positive experiences of their work (higher level of morale and more manageable workload).
• Having good school-wide plans to manage social behaviours is positively related to a strong culture of ongoing PLD, and more positive levels of morale.
• The findings in this brief are relevant in terms of responding to the current changing school environments and the increasing concerns about teacher burnout and workload.

The other briefs can be found below:

• Brief 1, Teacher experiences working in Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs), highlights the importance of ongoing professional learning and development (PLD) and improved digital resourcing to improve ILE experiences, as well as improving staff morale and workload.  
• Brief 3, PLD, NCEA changes, and teachers’ work, highlights the links between attitudes towards NCEA changes, an ongoing culture of PLD and knowledge of how NCEA changes can improve outcomes for Māori and Pacific learners.  

“Across the briefs, there is a common theme – the importance of having systems and processes in place that support teachers and their practice,” explains Kairangahau Matua Mohamed Alansari.  

“Teachers are more likely to report good working experiences if their schools support them and create ongoing opportunities for development and learning – particularly as those teachers navigate new challenges and changes.”