According to , we spend a third of our life at work. In schools, most of this time will be spent in the classroom. But when we are free, we navigate our way back to the departmental office, to grab a cup of tea and get on with the non-delivery aspects of teaching.
A lot of the time, though, we are not alone. We have colleagues who are also there. If you spend a third of your life at work, it’s important that your office time doesn’t end up like the War of the Roses (either the film or the historical event).
So here is a little guide by two people who share an office, to help you on your way.
Teacher wellbeing: How to avoid conflict in a departmental office
1. Division of labour
The kettle needs filling up - who’s going to do it? There is a smell from the fridge - who’s going to clean it?
If one person is clearly pulling their weight more than another, resentment will soon build. Should you use a rota? If that’s what works for you. But, above all, good communication is key. Now, who’s going to bring the milk in?
2. Silence is golden
When exam time comes around, there is more than your average marking load. So it is important to appreciate when someone really wants to focus and therefore needs silence. This is not the time to watch the latest film trailers on YouTube or have Wimbledon on in the background. Nor is it the time to experiment with listening to a jazz-funk-metal hybrid band.
This is the time to switch off and let your colleague get in the zone. It’s also probably not good to ask “How’s it going?” - however well-intentioned - every five minutes.
3. Office furniture creep
When extra paperwork comes along, it is very easy to spill over from your office space into your colleagues’ space. This is particularly the case if one of you has been in the same office for 20 years and has drawers full of old schemes of work, Santa outfits, “verbal feedback given” stamps and a confiscated cane, the provenance of which you thought it better not to ask too much about.
It is therefore essential that you create clear boundaries and that you can speak frankly when an encroachment occurs. Many teachers suffer from a cognitive bias known as the “endowment effect”, where we overvalue what we already own.
Ultimately, though, we know that a good clear-out is often required, no matter how emotionally invested you are in your various belongings.If you have a good colleague, they may have already put a call in to the caretaker for 10 black bin bags.
4. Always offer to help
As teachers, we are always just moments away from a quick trip to the photocopier. When you’re sharing an office, it is essential that you ask your colleagues before a trip whether they need any photocopying done.
However, this comes with the proviso that everyone involved understands that the correct answer is: “No, it’s OK. Thanks.”
The illusion of helping is absolutely crucial to the bonhomie of the office. But if someone actually says yes, then you basically know they are in the middle of a crisis, and you are playing Gary Lineker to their Gazza. Look out for them - do their photocopying.
5. Move in different circles
Gossip is at the heart of any office environment. This means that it is vital that you and your office chums try to break into as many separate social circles as possible.
You need one to infiltrate the SLT, another to cosy up to the PE department (unless you are PE, in which case try English) and another to hang around with admin staff.
This diversity will mean that, when you eventually arrive back in the office with different tales to tell, you’ll have a brilliant overview of what is going on in the school. You can then spend the rest of the time discussing what you would do differently over a nice cup of tea. Did someone get the milk?
Gavin Simpson and Natasha Lawrence reluctantly share an office in the social sciences department at Dame Alice Owen’s School, in Hertfordshire
