The Causes of Burnout in Teaching - PPA Buddy
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Home The Causes of Burnout in Teaching

Why Educators Must Act to Protect Their Well-Being

Teacher burnout is a growing crisis that’s impossible to ignore. From overwhelming workloads to systemic inflexibility, the pressures on teachers have reached critical levels. This isn’t just an individual problem—it’s an institutional one, deeply affecting educators, students, and the wider school community. Addressing it demands a collective rethinking of how we support teachers, prioritise their well-being, and create sustainable working environments.

I still teach part time and I’ve felt the sting of burnout firsthand. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, undervalued, and isolated in past roles. That’s why I founded PPA Buddy—to help teachers reclaim their time, energy, and balance. But before diving into how change is possible, let’s unpack the core causes of burnout and why urgent action is required.

Excessive Workload and Poor Work-Life Balance

The numbers speak volumes. A staggering 93% of teachers report weekly stress, far outpacing most other professions (Smith, 2023). This isn’t surprising when you consider the relentless demands on educators: teaching, marking, planning, data entry, and administrative tasks—all crammed into increasingly long days. For many, the work doesn’t stop when the school bell rings.

Teachers are left with little time for themselves or their families, creating a dangerous erosion of psychological detachment. Without clear boundaries between work and home life, stress accumulates unchecked. Studies have shown that such detachment is essential for maintaining well-being and avoiding burnout (Jones, 2023). Yet, the culture in education often celebrates overwork as dedication, perpetuating the problem.

The Teacher Retention Crisis: A Warning Sign

Burnout doesn’t just impact individual teachers; it drives many to leave the profession entirely. Recent figures from SecEd reveal that nearly 40,000 teachers left the profession in 2022/23 (Johnson, 2023). The loss of experienced educators creates a vicious cycle: fewer staff means heavier workloads for those who remain, further straining already stretched resources.

This crisis disproportionately affects women with caregiving responsibilities, as highlighted in the Missing Mothers report (New Britain Project, 2023). The lack of flexibility in schools forces many teachers to choose between their careers and their families—a choice that shouldn’t have to exist. Without systemic change, schools risk becoming untenable workplaces for many, exacerbating staff shortages and diminishing the quality of education.

Pandemic Aftershocks: Compounding the Pressure

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified many of these challenges, forcing teachers to adapt to remote learning, hybrid classrooms, and new technologies almost overnight. According to Marco Learning, these rapid changes became long-term burdens, with many teachers feeling unsupported and overburdened (Smith, 2023). While the pandemic may no longer dominate headlines, its effects linger, adding to the emotional and logistical weight teachers carry daily.

Why I’m Driven to Create Change

This is personal for me. I’ve been that teacher, staying up until midnight perfecting lesson plans, working weekends to catch up on marking, and losing sleep over ever- mounting expectations. I’ve felt the creeping dread of Sunday evenings and the emotional toll of never feeling “enough.”

That’s why I started PPA Buddy. It’s not just a service; it’s a mission. My goal is simple yet transformative: to give teachers their time back. By streamlining planning, cutting through the administrative noise, and fostering sustainable practices, I want to help empower teachers to focus on what truly matters—both in and outside the classroom.

Thriving isn’t about squeezing more productivity out of already exhausted professionals.

I believe that when teachers thrive, students do too. And thriving isn’t about squeezing more productivity out of already exhausted professionals; it’s about creating environments where educators feel supported, valued, and capable of balancing their work and personal lives.

The Call for Systemic Change

Surface-level solutions, like occasional well-being workshops or token mental health days, won’t solve this crisis. Burnout is a systemic issue, and it requires systemic
change.

Key areas for reform should include:

  • Workload Management: Reducing unnecessary administrative tasks and streamlining processes.
  • Flexibility: Introducing options like job-sharing, part-time roles, remote work days where possible, and pro-rata workloads—ensuring teachers are not expected to accomplish the same tasks in fewer hours.
  • Support Systems: Providing accessible mental health resources and creating a culture where seeking help is normalised.
  • Recognition: Valuing teachers’ contributions not just with praise but with tangible support, like reduced class sizes and additional planning time.

These changes aren’t just aspirational—they’re essential for the future of education. Schools that prioritise teacher well-being see lower turnover, higher morale, and, ultimately, better outcomes for students.

How You Can Take Action

As a teacher, you have more power than you realise to advocate for change—starting with yourself:

  • Set Boundaries: Protect your personal time by disconnecting after work hours.
  • Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help from colleagues, unions, or platforms like PPA Buddy.
  • Use Tools Wisely: Leverage technology and services designed to reduce your workload and give you back your evenings.

Remember, protecting your well-being isn’t selfish; it’s essential. You can’t be the teacher your students need if you’re constantly running on empty.

Take Back Control of Your Time and Well-Being —Join the Movement Today

At PPA Buddy, it’s not about just offering a product; it’s about building a movement. With a mission to challenge the outdated norms of overwork in education and create a culture where balance is celebrated, not shamed. You deserve to be more than just a burnt-out cog in the machine—you deserve balance, fulfilment, and the chance to make a lasting impact without sacrificing your well-being.

By signing up with PPA Buddy, you’ll gain access to tools, strategies, and a supportive community designed to help you:

  • Reclaim Your Time – Streamline your planning, cut through admin tasks, and finally enjoy your evenings guilt-free.
  • Protect Your Well-Being – Build healthy boundaries, reduce stress, and take control of your mental and physical health.
  • Be the Teacher You Want to Be – Rediscover the joy of teaching by focusing on what truly matters: your students and your passion for education.
  • Join a Movement for Change – Be part of a growing community of educators standing up for a healthier, more sustainable way to teach.

Sign up today and take the first step towards a better future—for you, your students, and the teaching profession as a whole.

Join the Movement

References

  1. Alavi, R., et al. (2023). Work-Related Health Problems Among Primary and Secondary School Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study. Shiraz E-Medical Journal.
  2. Brown, J. (2023). Teacher Burnout: Why it Happens — and How it Affects Students. SchoolMint.
  3. Johnson, M. (2023). Another year and another 40,000 teachers quit the chalkface. SecEd.
  4. Jones, L. (2023). How (and why) to leave work at school. EF Teacher Zone.
  5. New Britain Project. (2023). Missing Mothers.
  6. Smith, T. (2023). The Rise of Teacher Stress. Marco Learning.
  7. Smith, T. (2023). How stressed are teachers compared with other professions? Schools Week