SAAS Summer Series: Episode 3 | The Human Heart of the System: Wellbeing in a Time of Change

Why supporting staff wellbeing is essential to building resilient, thriving schools

Welcome back to SAAS Summer Sessions, our summer series bringing expert insight and practical education CPD from the Schools & Academies Show London 2026 directly to you.

In our third session, we turn our attention to the people at the heart of every school: school leaders and teachers.

With education professionals continuing to navigate significant pressures, policy change and increasing demands, supporting staff wellbeing isn't simply a nice-to-have. It is fundamental to building a workforce that can thrive and deliver the best possible outcomes for pupils.

Watch the Session

WATCH EPISODE 2 ON YOUTUBE >>

School Leaders and Teachers: The Human Heart of the System – Wellbeing in a Time of Change

Keynote hosted by Commercial Services Group

Speakers:

• Suzie Lavington, Trainer, The Art of Being Brilliant
• Rob Boyles, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Services Group

How can school leaders support their teams when the pressure to deliver continues to grow?

In this keynote, Suzie Lavington draws on evidence from the 2026 study to explore what wellbeing really means for today's education workforce and, importantly, what leaders can do to make a meaningful difference.

Building on last year's popular Thrive, Not Just Survive session, this year's keynote goes further, connecting staff wellbeing with the real pressures being experienced across schools and the resilience needed to navigate continued change.

Why Does Staff Wellbeing Matter?

Wellbeing and workforce capacity are closely connected.

When staff are experiencing sustained pressure, it can affect energy, confidence, morale and ultimately their ability to thrive at work. For school leaders, creating the conditions for staff to feel supported is therefore an important part of building a healthy and effective school culture.

The session explores some of the key pressure points emerging from the latest research, while focusing on practical actions that can make a difference without creating another demand on already busy staff.

Practical Ways to Support Your Team

Rather than focusing solely on big organisational changes, the session looks at the small, sustainable behaviours that can be introduced into everyday school life.

Suzie explores:

• Why wellbeing underpins workforce capacity and what leaders can do immediately to support it
• The key pressures emerging from the research and simple ways to help relieve strain
• Small daily habits that can boost positivity and energy
• How leaders can create steady, supportive and psychologically safe environments
• Practical techniques that leaders and teams can put into practice straight away

The focus is on creating meaningful change that is realistic, sustainable and achievable within the everyday demands of school life.

Thrive, Not Just Survive – Reimagined for 2026

The conversation around staff wellbeing has evolved.

As schools respond to changing expectations, policy developments and the wider pressures facing the education sector, resilience has become increasingly important.

This session considers how leaders can create cultures where staff aren't simply managing to get through the day, but are given the support and environment they need to genuinely thrive.

For school leaders, this means thinking about wellbeing not as an isolated initiative, but as part of the wider culture, leadership and workforce strategy of their setting.

Take the Conversation Further in Birmingham

This session is just one of the many conversations taking place across the Schools & Academies Show Birmingham this November.

Join thousands of education professionals on 18-19 November 2026 at the NEC Birmingham for expert insight, practical strategies, networking and 50+ hours of free CPD covering the issues that matter most to schools and trusts.

Ready to continue the conversation?

👉 Register free for the Schools & Academies Show Birmingham 2026 and discover what's waiting for you this November.