People who are attracted to teaching jobs are naturally dynamic. They have to manage so many aspects of their pupils' learning, development and lives it is often little wonder they can neglect their own health.

Since 2000, it has been shown by Health and Safety Executive figures that teaching is the most stressful profession in the UK, with almost half of people reporting themselves as ‘highly stressed’. The average profession in the UK sees only 20 per cent of workers classifying themselves as highly stressed.

Last year, statistics released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed the number of teachers taking time away from the classroom due to stress had actually increased by ten per cent over the past four years, with 15 councils across the UK actually recording a 50 per cent increase in the number of stress-related absences.

There is no doubt there are many causes of stress in the UK teaching profession. Firsthand research from TLTP Education has shown growing student indiscipline and increasing instances of abuse are taking their toll, while professional considerations such as Ofsted inspections and league tables in which the results may be taken out of the teacher's hands are also a huge source of anxiety.

With so many possible problems it is vital that teachers are aware of the signs of stress. If they are oblivious, the chances are a person will not be able to manage their stress levels effectively and this leads to a higher likelihood they will need time off work to recover.

What is stress? 

Stress is a natural biological response to events that can either make people feel threatened or upset. When something either physically or emotionally dangerous occurs - even if it is an imagined threat - the body's defences respond in a way that is known as the 'fight-or-flight-or-freeze' reaction - otherwise called the stress response.

It is a method or protection and when all is working well, it allows people to stay focused on the task in hand, meet previously unattainable challenges or in emergency cases can save their lives.

However, the stress response can be put out of kilter. Once it activates too many times or over a prolonged period it, can have detrimental impacts on overall wellbeing and go on to affect all aspects of a person's life, including their ability to perform in the classroom.

What are the symptoms?

The signs of stress vary from individual to individual but look out for cognitive issues such as: loss of memory, inability to concentrate, bad judgment, pessimism and worrying.

Behavioural symptoms include: moodiness, agitation, isolation, depression and feeling overwhelmed, eating too much, increased reliance on vices such as smoking and nervous habits such as nail biting.

Although stress is a mental issue it can have physical signs, these include: aches and pains, both diarrhea and constipation, nausea, rapid heartbeat, constant colds and a loss of sex drive.

How do you cope?

Spotting the signs of stress is the first step to dealing with it. There are many factors that will come into play in the management of stress, some which depend on character traits and some which depend on a working environment.

Support network: This can be within the school, but you can also seek guidance from family and loved ones with no experience of teaching. Support creates an effective buffer which protects against a job's stressors, while people who are left isolated are more exposed to them

Self control: Stress is created when control is lost. A person who has the confidence to know they can manage in these situations is less likely to have stress.

Attitude: Optimism can be a great rebuttal of stress.

Experience and preparation: People who are new to teaching may find it hard to see how it is going to get better. At that point, stress can be overwhelming. People who prepare themselves for hard days and weeks are more able to cope with it when it occurs.

There is no doubt about it, teaching jobs are stressful jobs.

The constant threat of inspection, the continued governmental fixation with exam results, the changes to remuneration and the increasingly prominent levels of ill discipline among pupils all add up to make cortisone levels spike before the end of the school day. TLTP Education's own research has shown uncertainty around resource levels and increased workload is creating unhelpful anxiety adding to levels of stress in the profession, while 40 per cent of teachers have been the victims of verbal abused in school.

It is clear there will not be much help from Ofsted or the government in the near future. While teachers' unions threaten industrial action based in large part on the difficult working conditions that many members face, governmental and regulatory advice has been limited.

Education secretary Michael Gove offered a simple reiteration of the existing sanctions teachers can use to curb poor student behavior, while Ofsted has declared it will be focusing on teachers' classroom attire come June.

While the merits of both actions are up for debate, all teachers could agree that more needs to be done to help combat growing levels of stress within the industry that are playing a huge part in scaring many suitable educators away from the classroom. 

To stop the detrimental shift of talent away from teaching jobs, perhaps the more experienced in the profession will need to take matters into their own hands.

Bill Rogers is an international guru on educational behaviour, although he is based in Australia he spends three months of the year working in UK schools, education workshops and seminars and has written books on how teachers can improve their stress levels. He explains there will always be the potential for stress in a role such as teaching, but teachers can learn to deal with it in a more efficient manner.

He writes on the Guardian Teacher Network: "Managing what is naturally stressful in our profession does not mean the absence of tension but our ability to collegially cope with, and support one another in that naturally stressful environment."

To do this, people in teaching jobs must learn to creatively live with natural tension and stress, and mentoring is a great way of doing this.

The primary thing mentoring will bring is support. A teacher who is struggling with high stress levels may often feel as though they are alone. A very challenging class of pupils can bring with it concern and anxiety that sucks the life out of a whole day and stops teachers from enjoying the profession they feel they were born to be in.

If possible, the mentor would be one with a free period in which they can link-up with the stressed teacher and work together to control the class and the stress levels.

"It is this existential sharing; this teaching with them (in their most challenging classes) that enables the sort of collegial trust that can utilise non-judgemental professional self-reflection," explained Mr Rogers.

Mentoring also fosters a different and more productive method of evaluation than simple appraisal - which in itself can be a source of stress. A method that is built out of a collegial culture in which all members of staff share common needs and senior staff can work on tailoring the working environment to these overt needs rather than guessing and tackling assumed needs. If teachers work together they can create a connected and engaged workforce, which will help stressed individuals cope more effectively with their concerns. 
 
It can be more than a simple stop-gap until those responsible at policy level can do anything to lower stress levels in the teaching profession. As things stand, many teachers are bullied in the classroom. Without a supportive network, the stressed teacher may automatically think that is the result of 'poor teaching' and this can exacerbate their concerns with their career choice.

If a collegially supportive school structure exists, teachers can explain problems to other staff, realise it may not be their fault without fear of implied or open censure and find extra confidence to deal with the issues and keep their stress levels from getting out of hand.

The challenges of being a teacher are so well-documented that it is any wonder we have teachers. The workload is so severe that it leaves professionals feeling dispirited, stressed and broken. There is also a sense of feeling undervalued, as if their role in schools is purely functional. And, well, there is never a sense of calm in the workplace - changes to education happen far too often for teachers to ever feel stable.

Yet, in spite of that, teachers continue to teach, and year after year, new recruits sign up to teacher training. People stay in the profession and enter, fully aware of how difficult things can be. The reasons for this are many and in this article we take a look at why so many people remain and are impassioned about teaching, despite the obvious drawbacks.

To work with children and make a difference

Making a difference to children and young people and making a real and long-lasting impact on their lives is one of the top reasons for teaching. Appreciating that these are some of the most formative years of a person’s life, being able to inspire youngsters - through one’s subject - is an exceptionally rewarding experience.

To be part of a profession that is varied and fun

No two days are ever the same with teaching, as you’re constantly progressing from one topic to another, engaging with different age groups and dealing with all sorts of situations that emerge (some good, some bad). Add to this the fun and creativity that can be had - and on a regular basis - and teaching elevates itself to an enviable position.

To teach and develop one’s subject and passion

There are a lot people out there whose vocation is not at all connected to what they are passionate about and interested in. And while that may not necessarily be to their detriment - they pursue their interests outside of work - that teachers get to regularly immerse themselves in something they care about is rather special to say the least.

To enjoy a competitive salary and enviable benefits

In short, the financial rewards and benefits that come with teaching can be rather substantial, which, along with job satisfaction, marks the profession out. The average starting salary in England is £24,200 and, depending on the pay policy of the school you work for, your earning potential can improve markedly in a short space of time.

To experience a better quality of life

On the balance of things - the late nights, the stress - this might seem rather weak, but, if you consider it for a moment, you can appreciate the value it brings. Teachers can have a holiday allowance of up to 13 weeks, the job fits into family life and it can be an extremely secure profession to be in.

Teaching is one of the most stressful vocations in the country, with high numbers of professionals admitting to feeling the heavy weight of their vocation on a daily basis or at least at some point in their career.

It’s a huge problem and one that is endemic in teaching. Seemingly, this has always been the case and therefore, given its prevalence, mustn't be overlooked. Schools need to adopt robust strategies for helping teachers with stress, otherwise they run the risk of perpetuating the same problems that makes it such a problem in the first place.

In this guide we look at some ideas that have been developed to tackle stress across the board (i.e. not just applicable to teachers), the levels of which in this country were described as “soaring” by a recent BBC investigation.

Identify what is making you stressed

Understanding the source of your disquiet helps you identify just what it is that is making you stressed. In turn, knowing what the trigger is helps you one, anticipate a problem and two, give you something to work towards.

Be more active

This may seem like it isn’t addressing the central problem, but studies have shown that the fitter and healthier you are, the more mentally alert and strong you will be. Additionally, while it won’t diminish stress in its entirety, it will reduce the severity of it.

Fight it head on

People feel a sense of weakness when admitting that they are stressed and will either shy away from it or think of it as a temporary state. This is counter-productive. You need to accept that it is an issue and moreover be adamant that you will work hard towards fighting it.

It is limiting to think that the most talented and effective teachers come from a highly qualified background, a top educator has said.

Professor Pasi Sahlberg, a renowned Finnish teacher and scholar, told delegates at the Oppi education festival in New York recently that that the assumption all teachers come from top-performing schools is a "dangerous myth".

According to TES, he explained that countries like Finland and Singapore - which are known for their consistently high standard - have an open mind when recruiting trainee teachers.

Professor Sahlberg pointed to the University of Helsinki by way of example, noting that of the 120 applicants for its teaching programme, only a quarter were in the top 20 per cent for academic results.

"Why does the university want to have someone who hasn't got the highest marks in reading, maths and science when there are so many applicants they could easily fill the 120 seats with the best kids there?” the online education news provider quoted him as saying.

"It's because in my country - and also in Singapore, and, as far as I know, in many other places where they are doing well with the teaching profession - the teaching profession is for everybody. It's a completely different idea to saying teaching is only for the best and the brightest who had the highest test scores."

This system goes against some of the approaches adopted by other countries eager to emulate the success of countries like Finland and Singapore.

For example, the UK government announced plans in 2011 to attract “the best graduates”, explaining that this was its way of “raising the status of the profession” and making it more appealing to “top graduates”.

Some of the proposals put forward for doing so, included offering incentives like a £20,000 bursary for those with a first in their degree who signed up to teach maths or science.

Like with any job, teachers' family and friends are as supportive as anyone could ask for, taking an interest in what you do and giving you the belief that you can succeed every day. But as much as teachers appreciate this interest people like to take in what they do, there are some clichéd little comments that it seems everyone can't help themselves from uttering when work comes up. 

We take a look at five of the most common phrases all teachers are fed up of hearing. 

"At least you only work 9 til 3!"

Well...not really. Sure, the pupils are only in class between the hours of 9am and 3pm, but that doesn't mean teachers are too. Do you know how much preparation it takes to make a class both fun and educational for 20-plus five year olds? It's not easy. 

And don't let that end of the school day bell fool you. As any teacher will know, that just heralds the start of piles of marking and grading that needs to be done night after night. 

"You get so many holidays, though."

While it's completely true that teachers get all of the school holidays, it's not exactly the paradise that people often paint it to be. For one thing, about half of that six week summer break is spent just trying to refuel from a stressful year in the classroom. 

And can you imagine not being able to choose your own holidays? If you need a day off here or there for whatever reason, it's nearly impossible to get away from the classroom. And that of course throws up the biggest issue - travel agents just love to add an extra few hundred pounds to the price of a holiday during school breaks!

"I reckon I could teach."

Oh you could? I'm sure everyone has thought at some time or another that they could easily do someone else's job, but teaching is nowhere near as easy as people seem to think. Trying to get a whole class of children to pay attention is hard enough - but try getting them all to engage with the lesson and actually learn something. 

With so much going on at once and so many impressionable young people to deal with, you really don't know just how difficult teaching is until you've tried it. 

"I'd love to work with kids."

Of course teachers love working with kids, it's the main reason people get into the profession, for the rewards that come from teaching people something that'll stand them in good stead for the future. 

But it's not always the pleasure that people seem to think. Every teacher has, at some point, had that nightmare class that makes them just want to hide under the desk until the bell rings, or had to deal with disputes, runny noses, toilet issues and other unpleasant things that would make most people rethink their statement. 

"People who can't do, teach."

Ok, so no one ever says this one seriously, but that doesn't make it less annoying when someone who has never been in the classroom makes this classic "humorous" remark. 

Most teachers are in the job because they love to teach, and when people belittle what they do as some sort of second option, it does get quite grating...particularly when the fifth or sixth person at a party makes the same quip. 

For most people who have trained as a teacher, one of the most exciting things in their career will be the moment they can at long last leave the classroom and head...straight back into a classroom, but this time as the person leading lessons and taking charge. 

The first year can be the trickiest of all to master, however, and for teachers taking on their first class, it can be a matter of survival of the fittest and being strong willed. Here, we take a look at a few of the top tips for surviving your first year as a teacher. 

Set the rules

You probably want your class to like you, especially if you're a brand new teacher, but kids seem to be able to sense weakness, and you don't want them to think you're a pushover. It's always a good idea to start your first lesson by setting out a few ground rules. It lets the class know who's in charge, and establishes you as the authority figure. 

Never stop learning

In your first year in particular, you should remember that you never stop learning. You'll be surrounded by far more experienced teachers with a wealth of knowledge you could never get at university, so never be afraid to ask for help and advice from those who have it in plentiful supply. 

Don't be afraid to fail

There's scarcely a time in life when everything goes right for anyone, and it's no different when you're teaching. In your first year, you may feel a tendency to play it safe, but remember, there's no reason to be afraid of failure, and you should always try things out. If they don't work, call it a lesson learned. 

Know when to turn off

One of the biggest barriers to retention in teaching is stress. People will get themselves so worked up over getting everything done that they work too much and end up falling out of love with teaching. Remember that you need a good work-life balance to enjoy a good life in general, and know when to switch off. Don't overwork yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help when your workload gets too heavy. 

Be yourself 

You may know what sort of teacher you want to be, but you should never portray a personality that's not true to yourself. Your class will see right through it, and you'll never feel comfortable in this situation. Try to be yourself and just relax and you'll find lessons flow better and you'll enjoy your job far more than you would otherwise. 

Don't take it personally

Kids say things they don't mean all the time, and if someone in your class says they don't like you, it's important not to take this too seriously. Remember that kids are always trying to push boundaries and test authority with their behaviour, and if they are misbehaving or insulting you, it's rarely, if ever, personal. Just try to stay calm and do your best to resolve situations in a calm manner and you'll find you get the respect of the kids you deal with far easier. 

As teachers, everyone likes to think they are unique and able to express themselves in a way no one else quite could, and while that might be true for a lot of aspects of the job, there are also a number of universal truths that exist across the whole education sector. 

We take a look at just a few of the things all teachers know to be true about their jobs. 

Teacher voice

You tell yourself when you start out that you won't be like the rest. You'll speak like you normally do and come across as cool and laid back, and then before you know it….boom, teacher voice! Worst of all, it starts to seep into other aspects of your life away from the classroom as well!

Stolen weekends

When you got into this career, you probably thought that one of the real highlights was the fact you had every weekend to yourself. Free from weekend shifts, your Saturday and Sunday were about to become sacred. In reality, the weekend is a time for lesson plans, marking homework and generally prepping for the week ahead. 

Stolen weekends (again)

Even on those weekends when you don't have anything work-related you need to do, your job can steal your weekend. You've spent all day every day Monday to Friday with around 30 people. Now the weekend is here, you're asked to socialise, but all you really want is some time alone with the remote and some snacks. 

Nothing works out as planned

So you've spent all weekend making a wonderful lesson plan that will excite and educate your class on Monday, and you can't wait to show them. Only when you get there, it takes minutes to complete and no one was as enthusiastic as you. Time to think on your feet!

Stationery shops become your new retail therapy

Remember the days when you looked forward to the opportunity to get to the weekend so you could spend your hard-earned cash on shoes, clothes and something for yourself? It all seems a distant memory once you realise there just aren't enough gold stars, crepe paper and felt tip pens in your life. 

Speed eating skills

The lunch hour seemed like such a wonderful and long period of time when you were a pupil, on the other side of the divide. But as a teacher? Well it's a whole different story, with so many different things to get done in that one-hour window. On the plus-side, you've learned that you can legitimately wolf down a good-sized portion of cous cous in a matter of seconds. 

That holiday feeling

When you were a kid, you thought there was no feeling quite like the bell sounding at the end of the last day before summer break. As a teacher, it just gets better. Sure, the public think you get a lot of holidays, but you know you've earned them, and when they roll around, as much as you've loved the last term, you can't wait to just relax. 

There are many reasons people get into a teaching career. Being able to teach kids about the world and a range of different subjects means it is one of the most rewarding jobs you could ever hope to find.

However, like any job, there are those little problems that everyone seems to experience at some point. Those little common issues that everyone who has spent in the job will nod at with that little knowing smile. Here, we take a look at a few of the most common teacher problems. 

They're just not listening

As every teacher knows all too well, explaining something once, or at times even twice, is never going to be enough. How many times have you spent your time going over something with the class in as much detail as you can, making sure you speak clearly and in a way you know everyone can understand, only for that one hand to shoot up in the air at the end. "I don't get it", they moan. Only when you ask what part you don't get do you realise it was the whole thing, because they weren't listening at all. Oh well….back to the start!

The troublesome parent

Every parent wants to know that their child is performing well and doing their very best at school. You're a teacher, you get that, and you appreciate the parent having a hands-on approach to their kid's education. But just not too hands-on. When parents are always trying to call meetings with you, or answering your marking of homework with some comments of their own, well there's few things more draining and problematic. You just want to be left alone!

The constant battle

If there's one thing you truly hate hearing as a teacher it's that age-old question...."when will we ever use this?" Pupils love to ask where something fits into their everyday future life, no matter how problematic it can be for you to answer. Sure, telling them that learning to cook will stand them in good stead for being an adult is easy, but try explaining to a 14-year old why they'll ever need to know trigonometry or Pythagoras' theorem. If you do, you're in for something of a long day for sure. 

The rebellion

Pupils are great, and they're the reason anyone gets into teaching, to impart knowledge on the young minds that could be tomorrow's geniuses. However, it's not always that simple. In high school in particular, kids are going through so many changes growing up, and for some this sparks a need to challenge authority in their own little way. The problem? To them, you're authority. You just want to tell them you're on their side, but what do you get in return for your help? Talking behind your back, giggling at nothing, throwing things at each other...it's such a drain.

Friends don't get it

It's not all rosy away from school either. You think the little problems you encounter in your school day will just fritter away when it comes time for the bell to ring. But after you've spent all day trying to keep 30 little delights happy, you've then got to deal with another group who don't understand you - your friends. They all work happy, carefree office jobs where five o'clock comes and they can swan off into the night, paying not a thought to work until the alarm goes the next day. The problem? Well no one seems to understand that your life as a teacher is a little less straightforward. Try telling them why you're spending pub quiz night reading about the Tudors 30 times back to back and just wait for the confused looks to start.

Teaching can be one of the very best jobs in the world for those who love to get into the classroom and pass their knowledge on to young minds. But we can all use some help from time to time to make the job that little bit easier, right? 

Here, we take a look at ten of the very best life hacks you can bring into the classroom to make your job just a tad easier. 

Use emails

Emails are almost outdated in the world of social media, but they can be a great way to stay in touch and engage parents. If you're assigning homework, why not send it in an attachment to your parents' mailing list so they always know what's going on? 

QR codes

At a parents' night, some attendees will want to know how they can stay in touch before the next meeting so they are able to keep track of their child's progress. More and more teachers are utilising smart technology and setting up a simple QR code parents can scan to get their contact info.

Technology and learning

It's easy to want to stifle the use of technology, particularly in high schools where smartphone use can be distracting. But why not embrace it? Ask pupils to research online and use their smartphones to actually learn. Chances are they'll be far more engaged this way. 

Apps

Getting control of a class of children is never easy, but you can make it far easier for yourself by downloading apps that set off an alarm when pupils get too loud. It's a far better alternative to raising your voice. 

Reminders

Are your pupils prone to forgetting things? Paper wristbands with reminders them can be not only useful but fun, and students will get used to having reminders on their wrist, meaning they will be far less forgetful in the future. 

Pom poms

Are you always losing your white board eraser at the exact moment you need it? There's nothing worse, but you can rid yourself of this problem by gluing small woolly pom poms to the end of your white board markers. Ready made erasers on top of your markers at all times? Result. 

Hand signals

When you're trying to teach, it can be a pain to have to interrupt a lesson for a pupil to ask if they can go to the toilet, borrow a pencil or have a tissue. So why not use hand signals? A system of different signals for different requests can mean you can continue teaching without having to stop and start all the time. 

Finished drawer

When pupils finish their work, they can often become bored and start distracting others. A drawer specifically for those who finish quickly, filled with craft materials and brain teasers, can be a good idea for occupying them and stopping them from putting others off their work. 

Start the day right

You want to get off on the right foot every day; we all do, and pupils are no different. You can help them start the day with a smile by telling your cheesiest joke each morning, or why not ask each of them to take a turn? It'll make for a fun start to each day. 

White boards

Who doesn't love writing on white boards? Pupils love to copy their teacher, and it can be a great idea to allow them to write on their own personal white boards while you do. These can be made very cheaply as well. Use plastic table cloths from pound shops stretched over cardboard for instant personal white boards.