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Sample report for a fictional school. Every figure for England is real; the school's figures are invented.

The full report a school receives, for you to read first

Larkfield Academy is a fictional secondary school. This is the report its leaders would receive when their teacher and leader survey closed: every section, at full size, exactly as the product draws it, with nothing behind a form. The numbered notes explain what you are looking at.

Real
Every figure for England: DfE Working lives of teachers and leaders, wave 4 (Jan 2025 to May 2025), secondary teachers and leaders in England, between 517 and 4,493 answers to each question. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Invented
The school, its two surveys (spring and autumn 2026), their responses and the comments.

Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026

School
Larkfield Academy (a fictional school)
Responses
64
Response rate
82%
Report written
12 October 2026

Larkfield Academy (a fictional school) · 64 responses (82% response rate) · report written 12 October 2026

56%

are satisfied with their job all or most of the time

Source: Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026, 64 responses.

England, secondary teachers and leaders: 54%

England, secondary teachers and leaders: the published figure for the same question. A gap is called above or below only when it is larger than chance would explain for the number who answered (95% confidence); smaller gaps are shown as in line. Details at the end of the report.

Summary

56% are satisfied with their job all or most of the time. The highest scoring theme is Line management (77% positive) and the lowest is Flexible working (31% positive).

Strengths and priorities

Only questions clearly above or below England, secondary teachers and leaders, allowing for how many answered.

Strengths

  • My school's leadership team supports my wellbeing.67%

    +18against England, secondary teachers and leaders

  • My manager gives me sufficient, clear and actionable feedback.73%

    +16against England, secondary teachers and leaders

  • My school provides staff with opportunities to actively participate in whole school decisions.53%

    +14against England, secondary teachers and leaders

Priorities

  • In general, how would you rate pupil behaviour in your school?30%

    -15against England, secondary teachers and leaders

Source: Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026, 64 responses. Groups of fewer than 10 people are not shown. Share of positive answers to each question. Amber tick: England, secondary teachers and leaders.

Since March 2026

Compared with the same survey in March 2026. Only changes larger than chance would explain for the numbers who answered are listed.

Clearly up

  • I have sufficient control over my own workload.

    +33points since March 2026

    Now 48%, was 16%

  • I have an acceptable workload.

    +19points since March 2026

    Now 22%, was 3%

Clearly down

  • My school's leadership team supports my wellbeing.

    -22points since March 2026

    Now 67%, was 90%

18 questions could be compared. The other 15 changed by less than chance would explain, so read them as no real change. With this many questions, one change may be chance alone: read these as places to look first.

Source: Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026, 64 responses, against the same survey in March 2026. A hollow ring is March 2026; a solid dot is this survey. Share of positive answers to each question.

The shape of the survey

Share of positive answers in each theme.
  • Line management Highest77%
  • Professional development69%
  • Leadership60%
  • Behaviour46%
  • Wellbeing36%
  • Workload35%
  • Flexible working Lowest31%

Source: Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026, 64 responses. Groups of fewer than 10 people are not shown.

Who responded

  • Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)40
  • Middle leader (for example head of department or year)14
  • Senior leader (including headteacher)10

Source: Teacher and leader survey, autumn 2026, 64 responses.

Wellbeing

36%Theme average, positive Theme average 36% positive-3since March 2026, was 39%: in line, within what chance would explain
I experience stress in my work.11%

The figure is the share answering tend to disagree or strongly disagree.

+4points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+7against England, secondary teachers and leaders

My job does not leave me enough time for my personal life.17%

The figure is the share answering tend to disagree or strongly disagree.

-3points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+4against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

My job negatively affects my mental health.30%

The figure is the share answering tend to disagree or strongly disagree.

-5points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+11against England, secondary teachers and leaders

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
30%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
43%
My school's leadership team supports my wellbeing.67%

-22points since March 2026+18against England, secondary teachers and leaders

Workload

35%Theme average, positive Theme average 35% positive+26since March 2026, was 10%

In your most recent full working week, approximately how many hours did you work?

  • Under 20fewer than 5
  • 20 to 29fewer than 5
  • 30 to 3913%
  • 40 to 4917%
  • 50 to 5936%
  • 60 to 6923%
  • 70 to 79fewer than 5
  • 80 or more0%
I have sufficient control over my own workload.48%

+33points since March 2026+11against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

I have an acceptable workload.22%

+19points since March 2026-4against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

Leadership

60%Theme average, positive Theme average 60% positive-4since March 2026, was 64%: in line, within what chance would explain
I feel valued by my school.67%

-7points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+3against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
70%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
64%
My school provides staff with opportunities to actively participate in whole school decisions.53%

0points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+14against England, secondary teachers and leaders

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
53%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
64%

Line management

77%Theme average, positive Theme average 77% positive+1since March 2026, was 76%: in line, within what chance would explain
My manager trusts me to work independently.91%

-1points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+3against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

My manager is considerate of my work-life balance.73%

-4points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+5against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

My manager supports my wellbeing.72%

+1points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+2against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
75%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
57%
My manager gives me sufficient, clear and actionable feedback.73%

+8points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+16against England, secondary teachers and leaders

Behaviour

46%Theme average, positive Theme average 46% positive-5since March 2026, was 52%: in line, within what chance would explain
In general, how would you rate pupil behaviour in your school?30%

-3points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain-15against England, secondary teachers and leaders

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
28%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
43%
My school's leadership team sets high expectations for pupil behaviour supported by clear rules and processes.59%

-11points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain-1against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
65%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
43%
When dealing with persistently disruptive behaviour from specific pupils or classes, do you feel that you are supported to deal with it effectively?50%

-2points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain-4against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
53%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
50%

What schools often do next

  • Choose two or three routines every adult uses the same way, rehearse them in briefings, and check them during short drop-ins.
  • Make sure staff know exactly who will come when they call for help with persistent disruption, and how quickly, then check that it happens.
  • Review the behaviour log with teachers each half term so they see what happened after the incidents they reported.

Flexible working

31%Theme average, positive Theme average 31% positive+4since March 2026, was 28%: in line, within what chance would explain
My school's SLT supports flexible working.31%

+4points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain-7against England, secondary teachers and leaders: in line, within what chance would explain

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
35%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
36%

Professional development

69%Theme average, positive Theme average 69% positive+3since March 2026, was 66%: in line, within what chance would explain
My school prioritises the training and development of all staff.69%

+3points since March 2026: in line, within what chance would explain+14against England, secondary teachers and leaders

By group

Classroom teacher (including early career teachers)
73%
Middle leader (for example head of department or year)
50%

What people said

What one thing could SLT do differently that would help you do your job?

  • “More notice of meetings and deadlines.” · said by 3 people
  • “Fewer data drops would give us real time back.” · said by 3 people
  • “Protect PPA time from cover.” · said by 3 people
  • “Quieter weeks around reports and parents evenings.” · said by 2 people
  • “Consistent follow-up on behaviour from the top.” · said by 2 people

How to read this report

Percentages show the share of people giving a positive answer (agree or strongly agree, or satisfied or very satisfied). Groups smaller than 10 are never shown, and where hiding one group would let it be worked out from the others, a second group is hidden too. Comments have names and contact details removed automatically and are grouped into themes with AI assistance; every figure in the commentary is checked against the data before the report is released.

Written commentary is not switched on for this report, so it shows the figures and comments only.

The amber ticks and the figures marked “against England” come from DfE Working lives of teachers and leaders, wave 4 (Jan 2025 to May 2025), for secondary teachers and leaders in England.

DfE Working lives of teachers and leaders: a weighted national sample of teachers and leaders in state schools, asked the same questions with the same answers. Interviewers did not offer “Don't know”, so those few answers are left out of the national figures. The comparison is with teachers and leaders only, which is why this survey does not include support staff.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Benchmark.Pulse is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ofsted or the Department for Education. These results do not predict an inspection outcome.

Run this survey today, free.

This is the teacher and leader survey with national comparison. Running it is free, and the free result includes the headline figure, strengths and priorities, and one national comparison. The full report and slides shown here are £149, or included in the annual plan.