Fitting in
Fitting in can be hard to do, especially as a new teacher when you are trying to make a good impression, understand the school culture, and work out who’s who. Here are some tips to help you find your niche:
- Take your time: you don’t have to suss everyone out. Equally, they don’t need to know you inside out within the first week!
- Beware of being isolated within a department. This may stop you forming other helpful relationships, notably with other new teachers.
- If you do notice cliques, try to stay neutral. It is important not to get drawn into internal disputes.
- Try not to allow your enthusiasm to be dampened by others’ negativity. You need to retain positive energy for your teaching.
- You’ll become closer to some colleagues than to others. Remember that pupils – especially teenagers – love to speculate about relationships between teachers. Try to keep a professional lid on all feuds and romances.
- Help others when you can: people will respect someone they can rely on and will be more likely to return the favour.
The pecking order
In any school there exists a complex network of relationships and the official hierarchy does not necessarily reflect where the ‘power’ lies. Help and guidance may come from unexpected sources. Working out how the staff relate to each other is invaluable, especially the relationships between teaching and support staff. It may be that the school secretary and teaching assistants are key people in making your time at work run smoothly.
You’re the new kid on the block
Well-established staff can sometimes feel threatened by change or new ideas. Acknowledge the skills and expertise of your more experienced colleagues but don’t forget that your view matters. Have the confidence to voice your ideas and suggest improvements – but remember to tread carefully.
Mugs and chairs
At break time, it is worth observing the ‘staffroom etiquette’. For example, be careful not to use someone else’s mug or sit in someone’s ‘special’ chair. It may sound petty but this could help you to avoid getting off to a bad start with your colleagues!
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