Staffrooms are Important
It’s easy to visualise a typical school staffroom as seen on TV — a musty area with some scattered chairs and old couches where. Teachers huddle in small peer groups seeking refuge from the relentless onslaught of noise, drink their fifth refill of bad coffee, and gossip about students and parents. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of prioritising teacher wellbeing to ensure professional effectiveness and personal fulfillment.
While this perspective is heightened for dramatic effect, staffrooms are indeed an important hub of welfare and camaraderie for teachers.
Why are staffrooms important?
Staffrooms play an important role as a central meeting place for teachers, support teachers, office staff, and the leadership team. Here are some of the key benefits that school staffrooms provide:
- A chance to bond – Team building is heavily prized in the corporate world, and so it should be in the education sector. Teachers are often alone with students for the majority of the day, with the staffroom one of the only places where honest and authentic adult-to-adult bonding can occur.
- Celebrating achievement and recognition – Teachers dedicate themselves to the growth and success of their students, going above and beyond in their role as educators. Staffrooms should be seen as a dedicated place where achievements are acknowledged and teachers’ hard work is celebrated. By hosting gratitude boards, sharing success stories, and organising mini parties, staffrooms can foster a culture of appreciation within the teaching community.
- A place to exchange ideas – The teaching space is a hotbed of new theories and developments. Teacher staffrooms give educators the chance to collaborate and share ideas. This sharing of ideas and experiences can lead to improved teaching practices and better outcomes for students.
- Support – An open and inviting space encourages teachers and other staff to bring issues to the table that they otherwise wouldn’t share. Sharing can help teachers gain support and find ways to constructively work through problems.
- Mental and emotional wellbeing: Teaching can be emotionally demanding, and teachers often bear the burden of their students’ challenges. Staffrooms can serve as safe havens where teachers can unwind, express their emotions, and seek emotional support. Engaging in casual conversations, sharing laughter, or venting about a tough day can provide the necessary emotional release.
- Relaxation – One thing that most teachers have in common, no matter the subjects they teach or the age of their students, is the fact that they must carry themselves in a very strict manner. Teachers spend the majority of their days surrounded by children, so they need to constantly monitor their actions and language. Staffrooms give teachers the opportunity to escape from the strictures of the classroom and relax.
Investing in your teachers through the staffroom
Teachers are the backbone of the education system, and ensuring their wellbeing is crucial for the overall success of students and the teaching profession. Staffrooms have the potential to significantly impact teacher wellbeing by offering support, collaboration, emotional release, problem-solving opportunities, and moments of celebration. By acknowledging the significance of staffrooms as the hub of teacher wellbeing and making investments in their design, resources, and culture, educational institutions can foster an environment where teachers can flourish both personally and professionally.
The principal Vasse Primary School in WA, Sinan Kerimofski undertook a major upgrade to the school’s staffroom in 2017. The reason for the expenditure was simple. According to principal Kerimofski, “staffrooms are the most under rated resources for staff health & well being.”
As well as making the staffroom an appealing place to be, using school funds to improve teacher staffrooms can be a serious morale booster for both teachers and support staff. Spending money or teacher’s facilities demonstrates that school leaders hold them in esteem and are willing to make the workplace a better place to be.
A recent Black Dog Institute report states that around 50% of Australian teachers are considering leaving the profession within the next 12 months due to overwork, burnout and understaffing. With this in mind, it’s obvious that finding places and ways to improve staff morale and improve their wellbeing should be a priority for schools across the nation.
COS works with a huge number of schools throughout Australia, and boasts a huge range of goods for the staffroom, including exclusive products sourced from local businesses that contribute to the Australian economy. If you’re in the market for furniture, stationery, plates, cutlery, tea, coffee, or anything else a modern staffroom needs,, the expert COS Education team can help. Call 1300 79 27 85, or email education@cos.net.au to make your staffroom the a great place for teachers and support staff.
