1/4 Teaching is a tough job, and those who do it are enormously resilient. But sometimes I see an expectation seep into a school culture that they have to be impervious.

That they have to keep going come what may.

That they can't show weakness even to each other.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

The Subtle Ways in Which Menopausal Women Are Silenced and some arguments to push back

Everybody's talking about menopause now, so we don't need to do anything to open up that conversation, right? Wrong.

We need to push back on all those insidious forces which silence conversation about perimenopause and menopause.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

open.substack.com/pub/helencla...

1/4 One of the things that comes up in workshops again and again is that perimenopausal and menopausal women are sacrificing their health for the sake of those around them.

Dealing with high levels of stress because they carry all the responsibility at home.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

“Helen showed a passion for helping all staff and the need for all staff to have the skills to talk about menopause. She was also very realistic and had a good understanding of how things work in school and the difficulties staff may face” Hannah Hughes, EYFS and KS1 Lead Shield Road Primary

1/2 That's where it starts. I talk to all staff about menopause, open up the conversation and help them to talk about it with each other and at home.

All staff means all staff. It's really important that men are part of this conversation.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

1/6 Yes, you need a menopause policy.

If your institution has more than 250 employees it will be legally required by next spring. But even if it doesn't, you still need one!

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/4 When I was a biology teacher I used to love teaching sex education - so I guess it's no surprise now I'm ancient that I'm supporting schools with perimenopause and menopause!

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/4 Even when we love our jobs that first day back can feel hard. Nerves can strike for the best of us, and when our amygdala is being buffeted on our changing hormones, then anxiety can be intense.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

I help school leaders support their colleagues through perimenopause.

Because we all want all our school staff, in school, doing their jobs to the best of their considerable ability.

These are some of the options and what they cost.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

Menopause makes teachers’ work lives harder – and may push them out of the profession Teachers feel unsupported by their schools.

1/2 Just in case you missed this wonderful article by Dr Hannah Ainsworth. She's spent the last few years researching the impact of menopause on the working lives of secondary teachers.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

theconversation.com/menopause-ma...

1/3 Going through perimenopause in school can be a perfect storm.

- The challenges of working in a school can be hard work for any of us.

- Perimenopause can cause a range of symptoms seriously affecting the body and brain.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

1/2 When I first watched Bill and Ted a VERY long time ago I thought this was naïve.

Now I think it's difficult and complicated but worth a try!

But, there's a big but...

You also have to be excellent to yourself.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

Menopause can be really hard to talk about.
I remember when I found it hard to talk about.
But that's something that can change.
It's my mission to change it!

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

Menopause in Schools — the dream I’m going to indulge in a little fantasy. I can’t stop you having a menopausal transition. I can’t change schools (much) but let’s see how…

What should it be like to experience perimenopause and menopause while working in a school?

What could it be like?

How can we make it better?

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

open.substack.com/pub/helencla...

1/5 I wish I could just fix menopause.

Take this and perimenopause will be gone.

Do this and you can stop thinking about it.

Rub this lamp no-one will ever have to deal with any of this again.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/5 "If anyone has a problem with menopause they'll let me know".

They might.

Then again there are lots of reasons they might not.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

Hello. For those of you that haven't 'met' me yet, I'm Helen. When I'm not helping schools support their staff through perimenopause and into menopause I'm messing with fabric and wool, and having quality time with my cats. I also really like feeding ducks!
#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

My Menopause: Information, Awareness, Understanding talks make a difference.

Once colleagues understand, once the conversation has been opened, it's the basis for real and lasting change.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/4 In an hour they'll hear

About the ways perimenopause and menopause affect the body and brain.

Why that can be so tough in a school environment.

What our options are for helping themselves in and out of school.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/4 All the weird stuff that happens. Your words disappearing in the middle of explaining something to the class. A sudden burst of rage at things you would have take in your stride. The fatigue that sudden drains all your energy from you at the worst possible time.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

Who We Are Becoming: Professional Identity, Women and Teaching We often talk about careers as progression, but for many women in education, they are better understood as a process of becoming. I can see the transition

A fascinating new #WomenEd blog from Kate Sida-Nicholls, FCCT, about how Professional Identity 'becomes', through 'the experiences and contexts that shape our working lives'.

womened.com/blog/general...

1/5 Going through menopause or perimenopause in schools can be tough - for lots of different reasons.

It's the worry about getting to the loo - especially if bleeding is unpredictable.

It's the memory loss - especially when you most need it. It's the mood swings.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

1/5 Teachers have incredible bladder control. The working of a school relies on all the staff to train their bladders and reduce their water intake so that they only need to go rarely - and at set times.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

I've made some amendments to my price list so it tracks against the elements in the government's guidance for Menopause Action Plans - but basically what their suggesting is just some of the services I've been offering for the last five years.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

Really looking forward to the next hour with our @womenedscotland.bsky.social group. I always come away feeling refreshed and refocused #WomenEd #ScoEdu

Perimenopause and menopause really do have a massive impact for people and work - and for those working in schools the impact is really specific.

Here's a summary of the research together with my experience from working in schools.

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

open.substack.com/pub/helencla...

1/2 And that's just the teachers! Add in the TAs and all the non-teaching staff and that's a lot of hot flushes - and as we know it's not just hot flushes!

#Edusky #EduskyUK #WomenEd

1/3 You wouldn't think it possible that someone in perimenopause or menopause could feel isolated - given all the other people experiencing the same.

But it happens. A lot.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #Womened

International Women's Day: Amplifying Voices in Education, Leadership, As the Education Manager for Belfast, I was proud to celebrate International Women's Day at our Belfast Creative Learning Centre for an inspiring morning f

A wonderful new #WomenEd blog celebrating the Northern Ireland #IWD2026 event at the Belfast Creative Learning Center 💜 @womenednireland.bsky.social

womened.com/blog/10-brav...

Government tells businesses to create new menopause action plans

1/2 Menopause Action Plans are a thing! If your school (or more likely academy chain) has more than 250 employees it will be mandatory from next spring.

#Edusky #EduskyUk #WomenEd

www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...

On being worn out, and worn down #IWD2026 #GiveToGain   It was wonderful to join colleagues at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, to speak in my role as Trustee on #IWD2026. I enjoyed

A beautiful new #WomenEd blog from Dr Kerry Jordan-Daus, about giving so that others might gain. 💜

womened.com/blog/general...