The 5 S Model

The Five S Model is a way of organising the different levels of the social-ecological system across which teacher resilience is shaped. This model has been informed by our research and proposed by our project advisor Sue Beltman. It helps us recognise that resilience is influenced by a wide range of protective and risk factors operating at different levels, rather than sitting solely within the individual teacher.

A diagram of the 5 S's model. This includes from the middle working outwards: Self on a green background, School on a blue background, Social on an orange background, System on a red background and Society on a purple background

Using this model, we focus on identifying the factors that support teacher resilience across five interconnected levels: Self, School, Social, System, and Society. Together, these levels provide a framework for understanding how resilience develops through the interaction between individuals and their wider contexts.

The Five S Model provides an organising framework that acknowledges how different levels of the social-ecological system can have direct and indirect effects on the teacher resilience process. By considering all five levels together, the model helps to explain how influences on Self, School, Social, System, and Society interact to shape key outcomes of positive adaptation, including teacher wellbeing, burnout, and job satisfaction.

  • Self

    Self

    Self refers to individual-level influences that shape how teachers experience and respond to challenge. These include factors such as self-esteem, emotional intelligence, personality, optimism, self-care, self-efficacy, independent problem-solving, and investment in pupils.

    Find out more: Self
  • School

    School

    School captures factors within the immediate working environment. These include support from leadership, workload, pupil behaviour, school culture, and any conflict teachers experience between their professional beliefs and everyday practice.

    Find out more: School
  • Social

    Social

    Social relates to the relationships and networks that surround teachers. This includes support from colleagues, as well as support from family and friends, and relationships with parents.

    Find out more: Social
  • System

    System

    System refers to broader structural and policy-level influences on teachers’ work. Examples include curriculum demands, high-stakes assessment and datafication, inspection and accountability processes, provision for pupils with additional needs, and working patterns.

    Find out more: System
  • Society

    Society

    Society reflects wider cultural and societal influences on teaching. This includes the broadening role of schools, levels of reward and recognition, and public perceptions of teachers and the profession.

    Find out more: Society