SCHOOLS are tackling stress with a programme of well-being in which teachers can air grievances away from the blackboard.

The initiative is aimed at decreasing stress and improving staff morale, communication and teamwork, as a means to improving the overall effectiveness of the school.

Head teacher at St Bartholomew's CE primary school, Great Harwood, Bob Allonby, is all for it. He went on the induction course with a teaching colleague and has reported back to staff on the latest stress busting initiatives.

Now all the school staff have completed an on-line confidential questionnaire about what makes them stressed. The school will then produce an action plan on how best to improve tranquillity behind the school gates.

"Teachers are very good at looking after others but poor at looking after themselves," said Bob who also teaches year five.

"We are now aware of our strengths and weaknesses as a team. There is a lot of work to be done to improve communication in the school and it is very easy to be blinkered about what goes on in a small section of the school rather than the wider picture."

The initiative is a timely addition to the packet of resources already applied in schools to combat stress. It also symbolises a shift from external to internal analysis.

Bob added: "There is a definite move towards self evaluation with Ofsted being more of a light touch checking for the big issues.

"There has been an initiative overload in the primary sector and teachers have never really got settled. We always seem to be hitting the ground running. Some stress is good but it has been very difficult to establish any working pattern."

The school will go back through the questionnaires in March 2004 when they will be able to see what improvements have been made.

So far this year nearly 40 per cent of calls to a Teacher Support Line have been about anxiety, stress and issues with colleagues.

And they are cited as the major reasons for teachers leaving the profession all together. In the North West, there was a 13.2 per cent turn over in staff last year costing schools some £40,000 in supply cover and an average of £3400 to recruit each new teacher.

Attention is now turning to holding on to existing staff by making them happier in the work place through the Well-Being Programme which was presented to education minister Stephen Twigg last week.

Brenda Hopper, Lancashire co-ordinator for the Well-Being Programme said 85 organisations have taken up the course. Staff at Walter Street Primary in Brierfield are currently working with their feedback to improve school organisation.

She said: "The response we have had from staff has been very positive. Schools learn to work on a range of issues from acknowledging achievements, work load, to including support staff.

"The initiative tries to pre-empt some of the detrimental effects of stress." For more information about the programme call Brenda on 01772 601363.