The Hidden Cost of Unrealistic Expectations: Why Teachers Must Set Boundaries

Teaching is often described as one of the most rewarding professions, but behind the scenes, many teachers struggle under unrealistic expectations and ever-growing workloads. For experienced teachers, the challenge is daunting. For those just starting their careers, it can be overwhelming. The result? It is a profession in crisis, with burnout, anxiety, and high staff turnover becoming alarmingly common.??

It’s time for teachers to stand up, set boundaries, and call this what it is: workplace bullying.

The Reality of Teaching Today: A Strained System??

As an experienced teacher, I’ve always taken pride in managing my responsibilities effectively. However, I am now finding it impossible to keep up with the unrealistic deadlines and demands imposed by school management teams (SMTs). If this is my reality, what does it mean for less experienced teachers???

Over the last five years, I’ve had countless conversations with newly qualified teachers struggling to cope. They’ve shared their anxiety, their difficulty in meeting expectations, and the impact this has on their ability to balance the many aspects of the job. Many of them are questioning whether they can even remain in teaching.??

This isn’t just anecdotal—it’s reflected in the high turnover rates in schools.

Teachers are not burning out because they lack passion; they’re burning out because the system is failing them.

Unrealistic Workloads: A Recipe for Burnout??

The challenge of excessive workloads is not a new issue. I raised these concerns as early as 2019, but little has changed. Many schools continue to expect teachers to work far beyond their contracted hours to complete lesson planning, meet deadlines, and handle burgeoning administrative tasks—all on top of delivering high-quality lessons for their learners.??

This constant pressure erodes any semblance of work-life balance and contributes to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Research consistently highlights that the biggest contributors to teacher burnout are excessive workloads, conflicting expectations from leadership, and a lack of recognition. And when teachers are burnt out, it isn’t just their well-being that suffers; the quality of education their learners receive declines as well.??

Studies show that teachers who feel unsupported by their management are less able to respond resiliently to workplace demands and are far more likely to leave the profession altogether. This isn’t an isolated, personal issue; it’s systemic. When teachers’ well-being is neglected, the entire education system suffers.

Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture??

Leading organisations, such as UNESCO, have long championed the importance of prioritising teacher well-being—not just for the sake of the teachers themselves but for the benefit of the learners they teach. When teachers are adequately supported, workloads are manageable, learner outcomes improve, and classrooms become more effective spaces.??

And yet, many schools continue to pile unrealistic expectations on teachers, choosing to ignore how damaging this is in the long term. In some cases, these excessive demands can even be considered a form of workplace bullying. When workloads become unmanageable, they place tremendous pressure on staff, undermining their ability to carry out their roles effectively and driving them to breaking point.

Setting Boundaries: An Act of Resistance??

So, what can teachers do? The first step is realising that setting boundaries is not a sign of weakness; it’s an act of self-preservation in the face of workplace bullying.??

Teachers need to push back against excessive demands that go beyond their contracted hours. Other professionals, like doctors and lawyers, do not work without being compensated. Why should teachers be treated any differently? It’s time to advocate for fairness and clarity in workload management. This might include:??

• Asking management to prioritise tasks effectively by setting reasonable deadlines.
• Delegating responsibilities, where possible, to auxiliary staff or learnerships.??
• Saying “no” to unreasonable requests or deadlines when they clash with well-being or contractual agreements.??

Supporting one another is also vital. Experienced teachers can take on a mentoring role, empowering and advocating for their less experienced colleagues. Collaborative action and collective voices amplify the power to demand improved working conditions.

A Call to Action: Leadership Must Step Up??

While teachers can and should set boundaries, the responsibility for creating a fair and sustainable working environment ultimately lies with management. SMTs must take accountability and prioritise teacher well-being. This can be achieved by:??

• Setting realistic deadlines and expectations that align with contracted hours.??
• Reducing excessive administrative workloads so teachers can focus on teaching.??
• Providing equal access to support staff, such as learnerships, to ensure one team doesn’t carry a disproportionate burden.??

Supporting teachers is not just a moral obligation—it’s critical to the long-term sustainability of schools and the success of learners.??

Working Together for Change??

Teaching is a demanding but deeply meaningful profession. However, for it to remain sustainable, we must address the issue of unrealistic workloads and the way they impact the well-being of teachers and ultimately the academic outcome of learners.?

Now is the time for teachers and school management teams to change their mindsets and collaborate to create a safer, more organised, manageable work environment in schools. Teachers must be allowed to meet expectations without sacrificing their well-being. Leadership must listen, learn from feedback, and implement strategies to support staff effectively.??

Let’s stop normalising burnout. Let’s start valuing the well-being of teachers—for the long-term benefit of learners. A profession that prioritises its teachers fosters thriving classrooms and creates the conditions necessary for educational success.??

Stand firm in your boundaries, and join the demand for a fairer, more sustainable workplace.?

This blog has been inspired by the voices of teachers speaking out about workplace challenges. If you’re a teacher feeling overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations, know that you’re not alone. Please share your story with us at?[email protected]?or?[email protected]?.