Being the ‘new person’ in any job can be daunting, particularly for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) who often have to navigate an unfamiliar workplace alongside embracing life outside of teacher training.
However, ECTs must remember that the training leading up to their induction years has cemented them as a deserving teacher. Along with this, establishing positive relationships with colleagues can make the integration into a new school much easier.
If you’re an ECT looking for meaningful tips to help you settle into a new school, education recruitment specialists, Spencer Clarke Group, are sharing their advice for navigating staffroom dynamics!
How Can ECTs Navigate Staffroom Dynamics?
If you’re an ECT lucky enough to secure a permanent teaching job at a school you have trained at, it’s likely you’ve already established some meaningful relationships with fellow teachers.
However, if you’re an ECT looking to find your feet in a new school, there are many effective ways to break the ice with colleagues and establish relationships which might help to propel your career.
1. Remember Your Common Goal
Amongst the busyness of adapting to a new school and meeting new people, it can be easy to lose sight of one very important factor - that you are all part of the same team!
When you remember your worth as an educator, it’s much easier to form positive relationships in the staff room.
Whilst the staffroom might be home to people with more experience than you, you’re all at school with one common goal - to provide students with a safe and happy place to learn. Keeping this common goal in sight forms an important basis for navigating new relationships.
2. Use The Staffroom To Unwind
A staffroom provides a step away from the hustle and bustle of the classroom and a place for staff and ECTs to unwind. The staffroom should be used as a place to form positive relationships and you may even discover a new friendship or shared interest.
Creating friendships in the workplace can positively enhance employee morale and as an ECT, can make the early stages of a teaching career even brighter. Whilst student welfare and education should always remain a priority, the happier you are at work, the happier your students will be.
3. Don’t Put Pressure on Yourself
The more pressure you put on yourself to make a positive impression in the staffroom, the more likely it is to feel overwhelming. Navigating relationships that already exist between teachers can seem frightening, however they should be more than happy to welcome you into the fold.
Seasoned teachers must remember that they were once in your shoes. More often than not, they will be so welcoming, the pressure you once felt will be immediately forgotten about.
4. Be Respectful of School Culture
Whilst all schools share a goal to provide students with positive learning outcomes, school cultures often vary between establishments. As an ECT you should be respectful of school culture both in the classroom and staffroom.
If a school has rules around what is and isn’t appropriate behaviour in the staffroom, it is essential to adhere to these. Failing to do so could create a bad impression and make navigating existing staffroom dynamics more difficult.
5. Ask Questions and Show an Interest
As a new member of staff, it’s likely that existing team members will ask you questions to integrate you into the team. However, as important as it is for existing teachers to welcome an ECT, you should also make an effort to learn about them.
Asking simple questions about what they enjoy doing in their spare time, how and why they got into teaching and even if they had a nice weekend, is a great way to break the ice, navigate staffroom dynamics and make a positive impression.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the start of a teaching career and settling into a new school can feel like a lot. However, by focusing on your shared goal, showing an interest in your colleagues and taking the pressure off yourself, you can navigate staffroom dynamics with ease and feel even happier at your new school.
