Prayer points

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven… so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.”
Psalm 123:1–2 (NIV)

Prayer Points for mental health and wellbeing of school staff

Almost half of heads needed mental health support in the past year

Heads also supporting more staff members with mental health issues as stress levels climb.

• Mental health of school leaders
  Many headteachers are experiencing high levels of stress and poor mental health. Pray for strength, renewal, and that leaders would receive the support they urgently need.

• Wellbeing of all school staff
  Pray for teachers and support staff facing anxiety, burnout, or overwhelming workloads, and for school cultures that prioritise care, rest, and understanding.

• Retention and sustainability in leadership
  Pray that fewer school leaders would feel forced to leave their roles early, and that experience, wisdom, and calling would be sustained.

• Professional support and healthy boundaries
  Pray for the introduction of effective professional supervision for school leaders, and for respect for rest time during weekends and holidays.

Smartphones and pupil wellbein

Give thanks that concerns about smartphone use in schools are being taken seriously. 

All schools in England should follow new government guidance and be phone-free for the entire school day, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said.

• Pray for wisdom as schools implement phone-free policies, and for learning environments that support focus, relationships, and wellbeing.

• Government wisdom and responsibility
  Pray that the government would respond wisely to both the mental health crisis in education and the challenges posed by smartphone use, working constructively with schools and leaders.

• God’s mercy in our schools
  Pray for God’s peace, wisdom, and compassion to shape classrooms, staffrooms, and leadership decisions across the education system.