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Health and Wellbeing

Imposter Syndrome: 5 Tips for Overcoming It

That voice saying you're about to be found out is common in teaching, and there are practical ways to turn it down.

  • 23 minutes
  • 6 modules
  • 0.5 CPD hours
  • Certificate

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What you'll learn

  • Talk about self-doubt with colleagues you trust, and find you're not the only one
  • Build a collection of thank-yous and good moments to read on a bad day
  • Use if-then planning to take the sting out of worst-case worries
  • Steady yourself before a lesson with slow breathing and a confident stance
  • Keep one child in mind when a whole class or hall feels daunting

About this course

New term, new class, the first day back after a long break: it's often when the old doubts come back. Can I still do this? Is someone about to notice I'm making it up as I go? Plenty of people in schools feel exactly this, newly qualified or 20 years in, and hardly anyone says so.

You'll come away with five ways to answer it. Keep a folder of the nice things people have said to you and read it on a bad day. Write down your worst fears and plan what you'd do if each one happened ("if I lose my words, then I'll walk to the back of the room and start again"). And when a whole hall of children feels like too much, teach to one child you know well.

There's also a link to Education Support, the charity for everyone who works in education.

  • For early career teachers, governors and 5 other roles. All phases.

6 modules

Open in order

  1. Tip 1 – Open up and feel less alone

    3 min

  2. Tip 2 – Keep a log of the good bits

    5 min

  3. Tip 3 – Plan for the worst

    6 min

  4. Tip 4 – Take a breath and stand tall

    8 min

  5. Tip 5 – Keep a child in mind

    3 min

  6. Access Help via Education Support