Principals urged to take part in survey
School leaders in Wales are being asked how the Covid pandemic has affected them. Here lead researcher Dr Emily Marchant, from Swansea University, explains why and how they can take part in the survey...
RESEARCHERS from Swansea University are leading a new study to explore the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on school head teachers and senior leadership staff across Wales.
Part of a wider international study of over 40 countries through the Covid-19 Health Literacy consortium, the research team are inviting all senior school leaders to take part in an online survey.
The survey findings will help researchers provide evidencebased insights into the challenges and impacts of Covid-19 on leadership staff in educational settings in Wales.
While research has been conducted exploring the impact of school closures on pupils and teachers, there is a gap in evidence exploring the effects of the pandemic on head teachers and senior leadership figures within schools.
This is important because head teachers and senior school leaders have been exposed to a whole new working situation and environment, requiring decision-making and leadership relating to the numerous challenges they have had to master and manage.
Head teachers and senior school leaders have therefore had to cope with particularly high demands as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Supported by the Centre for Population Health and the National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales, Swansea University will also work alongside teams at Newcastle University, London South Bank University and Glasgow Caledonian University to gather and compare data across the UK.
The Wales and UK-wide survey will also inform the global study with more than 40 countries.
This international collaboration contributes and positions Wales within the international research environment to support global planning efforts towards the workplace health of head teachers and senior school leaders.
■ If you are a head teacher or senior school leader working in an educational setting across Wales, have your say in our Covid-19 School Leadership Survey https:// ncphwr. org. uk/ portfolio/ covid19-school-leadership-survey.
■ For further information, please contact Dr Emily Marchant at E.K.Marchant@swansea.ac.uk