Nearly two-thirds of teachers - 62 per cent - have felt drained and mentally exhausted this term, a Tes survey reveals.

In total, 45 per cent of respondents said they were “drained and exhausted” this term, while nearly a fifth - 17 per cent - said they felt “physically and mentally on the brink”, when asked to describe their health and wellbeing.

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And 30 per cent of the more than 7,000 respondents said they were “just about coping”, while just 7 per cent said they felt “completely fine” and 1 per cent said they felt “great”.

One state secondary teacher said: “The workload is massively increased by teaching remotely.

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“Live lessons take exceptionally detailed planning as it’s hard to change them as you go along, unlike a normal in-school lesson when you can adapt your teaching as need be. Email and other communications have increased as students, as well as other staff, have no other ways of getting in touch.”

Another added: “Some days are worse than others. It’s draining and exhausting trying to find new inventive ways of teaching online: tracking their progress, encouraging them to engage online, marking their work for them, worrying about their mental health whilst trying to battle your own.”

Another commented: “I handle stress very well but it has got me at times. I think there’s too much pressure being put on teachers.

“We have 15 minutes of lunch break and have to mark, collect data, respond to all emails, send out commendations, attend rota calls, teach something we’re not familiar with. All without thanks or gratitude from the head. Maybe that’s just this school but I know I work longer hours at home,” they added.

And one teacher even said they had resigned because of stress.

“I have resigned from my job due to the ongoing issues with SLT not having any regard for our health, safety or wellbeing,” they said.

“I will also be leaving behind a successful 20-year teaching career as my next job is not teaching-related. The pressure of being a secondary teacher and being constantly scrutinised has become too much.

“The part of the job I love the most - teaching my students music - has been and continues to be amazing and thoroughly enjoyable. Everything else about it is horrendous. I am taking a 50 per cent pay cut but my health and happiness is priceless.”