Publication of the Month – September 2025

Resilience training to support teachers

A new paper by Dr Julian Ayres explores building resilience to support teacher retention in post-compulsory education.

The post-compulsory education sector continues to face significant challenges, including high levels of work-related stress, teacher burnout, and persistent concerns about retention. Supporting trainee teachers to thrive during training and into their early careers is therefore a pressing priority.

This month’s featured publication, authored by Dr Julian Ayres, investigates how resilience training can help address these issues. The study trialled a bespoke programme for PGCE (Post-Compulsory Education and Training) students at Wrexham University, drawing inspiration from resilience-building interventions in sectors such as nursing, elite sport, and the armed forces.

The training combined mindfulness practices, structured reflective writing, and peer dialogue. Delivered in a safe and collaborative environment, it enabled trainees to explore challenges openly and develop practical coping strategies.

The results were encouraging: all 13 participants in the intervention group completed the year and achieved their teaching qualification – a strong outcome for a programme previously identified as at risk of attrition. Six months later, follow-up questionnaires showed that participants were applying resilience strategies in their teaching roles, helping them manage stress, navigate setbacks, and build confidence in the classroom.

Participants reported that the most valuable aspects were the opportunities for deep reflection and shared dialogue with peers. These shifted the cohort culture from competition to collaboration, fostering stronger professional identity and emotional regulation.

Dr Ayres also highlights that while individual resilience training is effective, it must be complemented by systemic change. Structural challenges – such as workload pressures and performance-driven cultures – remain significant barriers to retention. For long-term impact, both personal resilience and supportive institutional environments are essential.

This important research demonstrates how targeted interventions can improve teacher well-being and retention, offering a model that could be scaled across the sector.

If you’re interested in this topic, watch back Dr Ayres’ Wrexham Talks Research Public Lecture on Grit and Resilience, and read the full paper.