ABSTRACT
During the 1990s I have taught in six separate schools, in London, Lancashire and Cornwall: one infant, one junior, two primary and two secondary.
In this time three of my headteachers have had to take time off for stress-induced illness. Twice I have been appointed to replace a teacher who has prematurely and abruptly left teaching through ill health brought on by stress. One former colleague simply went home at the start of one holiday and never returned to school. She has since attempted suicide on more than one occasion. Another colleague was discovered one Monday morning sitting in her car outside the school. She was in tears, unable to face the day ahead.
