“I used to avoid the staffroom on purpose.”
That’s what a head told me.
“I wanted it to be their space.
Somewhere they could talk freely.
Somewhere leaders weren’t hovering.”
She cared deeply about her team.
She didn’t want to intrude, so she rarely went in there.
And then one day, she really looked at it.
Old sofa.
Mugs everywhere.
Paper creeping into corners.
A noticeboard layered with old messages.
“Nothing awful,” she said.
“But it didn’t reflect how highly I think of my staff.”
That’s the bit that stayed with me.
Because this was a head who held high standards.
Who talked about valuing her team.
But the space where they rested?
Didn’t say that.
And she didn’t blame anyone.
She just said:
“If I say my staff matter… the space has to say it too.”
So she made a few changes.
Nothing expensive.
Just thoughtful.
Comfortable seating.
Clear surfaces.
A reset of the noticeboard.
A few small touches that made it feel intentional.
And something shifted.
Staff stayed a little longer.
Talked a little more.
Took a bit more pride.
Not because of luxury.
Because of what it said.
Environment doesn’t just shape pupils.
It shapes adults too.
So here’s something simple to try this week:
- Take a look at your staffroom. Pause. Look at it as if you’re new.
- What does it say about how much your staff are valued?
- Pick just one thing to improve. It doesn’t need to cost anything, or a lot.
Some ideas:
- Is all the signage/stuff on the walls needed? If so, can it be positioned better?
- Buy teaspoons, lots of them.
- Would cushions, plants or rugs warm the place up (without costing the earth),
Here’s to environments that reflect how much your team matter,
Sonia ❤️