case studies

Jacquie, a primary school headteacher, participated in our Heart Health for Headteachers Programme in 2022.

Before joining the course, she suffered from long Covid symptoms, including daily heart palpitations, while juggling the demands of her busy professional and personal life.

In this case study, Jacquie shares how the Heart Health for Headteachers Programme profoundly impacted not only her physical and emotional health but also her leadership.

By understanding the effects of chronic stress on her body, she fully recovered, eliminating her long Covid symptoms and heart palpitations. She regained her energy and no longer feels the term-end exhaustion that many headteachers experience.

Enjoy this insightful reflection from Jacquie, part of a longer webinar hosted by HeadteacherChat.

Jacquie Chambers, Headteacher, St Mary’s C of E Primary School

“(The Heart Health for Headteachers programme) is one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s completely changed me as a professional.“

James Newman, Headteacher, Epsom and Ewell High School

“I needed to do something to help me otherwise I would be leaving Headship.”

Peter S, Headteacher

“It gives you the knowledge of how everything in your body works and gives you the tools to prepare, adapt and recover.”

Sue Nardoni, Headteacher, Pyrcroft Grange Primary School

“The programme allowed me to get back to the level I felt I ought to be, and that I absolutely needed to be.”

Dom, Headteacher

Headteacher Health and Wellbeing

Assessing the Impact: Headteacher Heart Health Programme Pilot

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Headteacher Heart Health programme, we conducted a pilot in collaboration with the Essex Primary Headteacher Association (EPHA) from June 2021 to November 2021. The programme was attended by 12 voluntary participants from the EPHA Executive.

This comprehensive programme is founded on the recognition that psychological stress is a well-established health risk factor and is an independent contributor to coronary heart disease (Wirtz and von Känel, 2017).

Through targeted interventions and evidence-based techniques, we aimed to address the challenges of stress and its potential effects on the heart.

By implementing the programme, we were able to demonstrate a measurable positive impact on participants’ wellbeing and heart health. 

Breathe Your Way to Brain Health:

Surprising Insights into Alzheimer’s Prevention

Discover how to protect your heart and brain health through our Heart Health for Headteachers program. Recent groundbreaking research, led by Professor Mara Mather, offers hope against Alzheimer’s disease using the same methods we use.