The staffroom – the refuge and place of (relative) relaxation for teachers across the UK. They’re an essential part of every school and higher education environment, but – the question for many caretakers and building managers is this – how should they be furnished? You’ll find the answer in Rosehill’s staffroom furniture buying guide…
What is a staffroom?
Forgive us for answering what seems like an obvious question, but given the changing and evolving nature of the modern school environment, the word staffroom means different things to different people.
Traditionally, staff rooms (also known as teachers’ lounges) have been one of the most neglected spaces within a school. In many cases, staff rooms were afterthoughts – bare, simple rooms with a handful of desks, lounge chairs and – if you’re lucky – a coffee table or two.
However, with the changing curricula, the introduction of laptops and other electronic devices, and the pressure on teachers to hit ever-more targets, staff rooms have become the focus of caretakers and building managers – and, quite rightly, too!
The importance of the staffroom
When resources and budgets are tight, it’s tempting to focus only on the ‘student-facing’ parts of the school e.g. the classroom.
But, as you’ll see below, there are plenty of evidence-backed reasons to justify spending some money properly furnishing your staffroom.
A place to relax
As any teacher will tell you, teaching is a tough job. Long hours, unruly pupils, changes to curricula and a list of targets means it’s a job where high stress levels are not uncommon.
Which is where a properly furnished staffroom comes in.
A well-appointed and thoughtful staffroom can be the place where teachers are able to relax and unwind in-between lessons or at the start or end of the school day.
Of course, you can only relax if you not only have the right types of furniture, but that said furniture is comfortable as well.
Improved morale and turnover
According to data from the UK Government, around 1 in 10 teachers leave the profession every year. That’s a staggeringly high turnover rate – and it’s one that won’t be helped by substandard welfare facilities like staff rooms.
If you want to boost your staffs’ morale, make them feel valued and (potentially) increase retention of great teachers – it’s more than worth investing in creating a quality, comfortable staffroom.
According to consultancy PWC, the cost of recruiting a new teacher can be as much as 10 to 20% of a teacher’s salary. That can add up, so why not spend money on creating a welcoming staffroom?
A place to work
Teachers have a great deal of work to do outside the classroom. Whether it’s lesson planning, marking or preparing for parents evening – they need a comfortable, quiet place to work.
Why not make that place your staffroom?
By making your staff room more comfortable – and equipping it with the mod cons that teachers expect (e.g. power and Ethernet connections for laptops), they’re more likely to spend time there working through their voluminous to-do lists.
A place to eat
Gone are the days when teachers were expected to eat with their students in the main school canteen. These days – according to research conducted by Teachertapp – only around 10% of teachers use their school’s canteen.
So, where are teachers eating? Evidence suggests that most teacher lunchtime dining goes on in the staffroom.
In that case, you should ensure that in addition to a few small kitchen appliances (microwave, kettle etc), you have tables and chairs that are of the correct height and dimensions for a comfortable dining experience.
Improved communication
What better way to improve communication between teaching colleagues than by providing a comfortable, social-focused staff room that has areas for socialising. Think comfortable lounge chairs and coffee tables – perhaps even a sofa or two.
It’s not just the usual casual talk that’ll take place in a staffroom. As educational magazine Teacher Toolkit points out – staff rooms can be an excellent source of continuing professional development (CPD). As they quite pithily put it, ‘the staff room is a classroom’.
A staffroom can also act as a communications hub between students and teachers. Pigeonholes or similar shelving solutions provide an ideal place for students to leave homework, permission slips or other related items.
How to create the perfect staffroom
As you’ve just read – it’s absolutely worth investing in a quality staff room that is well furnished and a pleasure to spend time in. Plus, there’s not just teachers you need to think about. As a school manager or caretaker, would you be happy to show prospective students (and parents thereof) your current staffroom? If your answer is no, then you need to set about creating a staffroom you can be proud of.
And, how do you do that? By reading Rosehill’s top tips below…
The all-important art of zoning
In the majority of schools, the staff room will be a single large room. That’s surely a good thing right?!
Well, it is. But, only provided you use the space effectively – which is where the concept of ‘zoning’ comes in.
Something of an art rather than a science, zoning involves breaking down and structuring the space within a room (or more general area) into distinct zones that have specific purposes or functions.
What does this mean in the context of a school staffroom? Well, the easiest way to zone a staffroom is to consider those benefits and uses we outlined above.
Why not create the following zones in your staffroom?
Relaxation zone
This is an area for teachers to unwind and relax; whether it’s before the school day starts, a free period between lessons, or post-school day, this zone should be somewhere where a teacher can close their eyes for a few moments, meditate and collect their thoughts – or perhaps just scroll through their phone or browse a magazine.
Try these items of furniture for your relaxation zone:
- Lounge chairs – individual chairs such as the Corby Lounge Chair or the GoGo Lounge Chair offer the sort of retro-modern luxury that will create a relaxing, chilled out vibe.
Shop Now – GoGo Lounge Chairs
- Coffee tables – complement those lounge chairs with compact yet stylish coffee tables. Not only will teachers have somewhere handy to rest their cuppa, but over time these tables can become home to a variety of magazines or other literature for teachers to read in their downtime. Coffee tables such as the Encore Coffee Table and Strut Coffee Tables provide the perfect blend of utility and style.
- Acoustic panels/screens – to truly create a place of serenity within your staffroom, consider purchasing some acoustic screens. Not only do screens such as the Kielder Freestanding Screens act as physical dividers – separating the relaxation zone from the rest of the staffroom – but they will dampen sound, helping to create a calmer, more relaxed environment.
Work zone
As we’ve highlighted a number of times so far, teachers have to work hard. From early mornings to evenings – and much of that work ends up being done at school.
Thus, it’s prudent to create a comfortable, well-equipped ‘work zone’ within your staffroom.
Teachers are likely to be doing a mixture of work – from marking physical exercise books to preparing lesson plans on a laptop or tablet. Therefore, the furnishings you provide in the work zone should be reflective of these needs.
Try these items of furniture for your staffroom’s work zone:
- Teacher desks – want to provide a traditional option? Then why not purchase a number of teacher desks. These will provide a place for teachers to mark and work on an individual basis. The Metalliform Teacher Desks are a particularly good choice given their robust construction and five-year guarantee. They also feature lockable drawers.
- Height-adjustable tables – the traditional option isn’t for everyone. So, why not embrace the new standing working trend and add some height-adjustable desks to your work zone. As the name suggests, these desks will allow teachers to work in a standing position – keeping them active and burning calories. Options such as the Elev8 Standing Desk are a great value choice – and, as you can see from the image below, can be easily be ‘banked’ together to create a more social working environment.
Shop Now – Elev8 Touch Sit-Stand Office Desks
- Task chairs – if your teachers are going to be spending long periods sitting and working, it’s a good idea to provide them with good quality task chairs. These will promote and support good posture, and are just generally more comfortable! Our particular favourite here at Rosehill is the WithME Operator Chair which will automatically adjust to the weight and dimensions of every user – making it perfect for a work zone where multiple people could be using the chair throughout the day.
- Workbooths – does your school have a particularly large teaching staff? Some of the more recent ‘mega academies’ can have nearly 200 teachers. With a large number of teachers, your work zone may become rather noisy – so, it can be worthwhile providing a workbooth. If you’re not familiar with workbooths, think of them as being akin to phone boxes (albeit with seating and a small desk). Models such as the Penelope Pod feature a convenient door – acting as an acoustic dampener and also as a signal that you don’t want to be disturbed!
Note – when buying furniture for your work zone, don’t forget to buy items of furniture that feature power and data modules. These are modules that will allow teachers to charge the laptops and connect to a wired internet connection. If you’re not sure what items of furniture have power and data modules, contact us, and we’ll be happy to help!
Dining zone
Although as many as 30% of teachers are known to regularly skip lunch, there will still be those who want somewhere to eat – even if it’s a quick sandwich or packet of crisps.
And, as we’ve seen, the humble canteen doesn’t really cut it – so, it’s expedient to set aside a section of your staff room as a dining zone.
So, what sort of furniture should you purchase to create the optimal dining zone? Let’s take a look…
- Tables and benches – create a convivial dining experience with a set of tables and benches. Aside from facilitating communal dining, table and bench combos are a great way of fostering communication and collaboration between teachers. For us here at Rosehill, our top pick would be the Axiom Block Steel Tables & Benches. As you’ll see from the image below, these are a cool, modern choice that’ll breathe life into your dining zone.
Shop Now – Axiom Block Steel Tables & Benches
- Poseur tables – sometimes teachers won’t have time to sit down and enjoy a full lunch. Instead, they’ll literally be having a quick snack and then out the door to their next lesson. For that reason, it can be a great idea to provide some poseur tables. These are taller tables that allow individuals to stand whilst they eat or work. If you want to create a coordinated dining zone, then you can purchase the Axiom Steel Poseur Tables, which complement the Axiom Block Steel Tables and & Benches mentioned above.
- Pedestal tables – pedestal tables are another great choice for the dining zone in your staffroom. We’d particularly recommend circular ones as they allow multiple people to use them at once – brill if your teachers like to ‘huddle’ before the day begins. There are loads of pedestal tables to choose from, but we particularly like the Twyst. Take a look and you’ll see that they’ve got a fantastic design.
- Diner booths – should you want to provide a quieter space for teachers to eat their lunch, consider purchasing a diner booth or two. Models such as the Fifteen Diner Booth can be configured in a number of ways, including with ‘high backs’ to create a more enclosed space – perfect for some quiet lunch and contemplation.
Shop Now – Fifteen Diner Booths
Communal zone
The majority of the zones above are generally best situated in the corners of your staff room – however, that does beg the question, “what do you do with the space that’s left over in the middle?”.
Well, by its very nature, the space left over in the middle of the staffroom is perfectly suited to being the ‘communal zone’. An area through which people can pass to the other zones, or just hang out and chat.
How do you create a communal zone? We’d say the following types of furniture are essential:
- Modular seating – not only is modular seating highly versatile and flexible, but it looks fantastic and is the perfect way of giving your staffroom an uber modern feel. Systems such as the Fifteen Modular Seating system are endlessly configurable meaning they can be used in high footfall areas with ease. Check out the image collage below to see what we mean.
Shop Now – Fifteen Modular Seating
- Pods – if you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘pods’ it refers to semi-enclosed seating solutions. Think of them as being a type of bench seating but with high, enclosed sides. In some instances – such as with the Fifteen Pod – they even include a roof. This means they are ideal for both relaxation and work.
Shop Now – Fifteen Pod
- Noticeboard – the communal zone is the perfect place to put a noticeboard, as it’s where the noticeboard is going to get the highest ‘readership’. We’d recommend something like our Felt Noticeboard – this allows notices to be easily pinned and removed as necessary.
- Lockers – teachers, like anyone else going to work, will often have personal effects (e.g. a backpack) that they want to keep safe whilst they’re busy. To provide your teachers with somewhere to safely store their items, provide them with a set of lockers. And, as our Probe Steel Lockers demonstrate, lockers don’t have to be dull, drab affairs. In the right colours, they can really enliven a space.
- Storage systems – the communal zone is also one of the best places to locate storage systems. As any teacher will tell you, at any one time they’ll need to store scores of textbooks, provide somewhere for students to drop off homework or notices and more. These storage systems don’t have to resemble the ‘pigeonholes’ of old. Instead, modern storage systems such as the Bridge Storage System are massively configurable – adapting to what you need them to do. Plus, they look fantastic!
Shop Now – Bridge Storage System
Staffroom furniture buying considerations
You’ve hopefully gained some inspiration from our tips above – zoning is a classic interior design tactic that will help you get the most out of your space.
However, there are a few other points you need to consider when buying furniture for a school (albeit staffroom) environment. It’s those points that we’ll cover next.
Contract standard furniture
The first – and arguably most important – thing to consider when selecting furniture for a staff room is ensuring that whatever you buy has been manufactured to ‘contract standard’.
You’ll probably be aware, but if you don’t, then the term contract furniture refers to a distinct type of furniture that has been explicitly designed for use in high-traffic, high-use public spaces; spaces where the furniture is going to withstand far more wear and tear than domestic furniture.
You’ll be able to tell if a piece of furniture is of ‘contract’ standard if it has been tested to a number of quality standards. Examples of these standards include:
- Part 1: Furniture. Chairs and tables for educational institutions. Functional dimensions.
- Part 2: Furniture. Chairs and tables for educational institutions. Safety requirements and test methods.
Guide – you can find out more about contract furniture and the standards this type of furniture is tested against in our Guide to Contract Furniture Strength & Weight Testing Standards.
Fire safety
Closely related to the point above is fire safety. Any items of furniture you purchase for your staff room (especially those items that are upholstered) should have been tested to appropriate fire safety standards.
The main fire safety standard you should be looking for on your chosen furniture is BS 7176:2007 – this applies to upholstered furniture and specifies the ignition resistance of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating.
An item of furniture that has been tested against this standard will have been subject to further sub-tests. Depending on how it performs, it will then be given a ‘Crib’ rating’.
If you want to err on the side of caution, then choose furniture which has a Crib 5 rating. This means it will have passed the following sub-tests:
- BS EN 1021:1 2006 (smouldering cigarette).
- BS EN 1021:2 2006 (match flame).
- BS 5852:2006 Sect 4 IS5 (Crib 5).
Here at Rosehill, we have a truly massive selection of Crib 5 furniture. If you’re not sure if a piece of furniture you want is Crib 5 or not, contact us, and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Guide – want to know more about fire safety and contract furniture? Then read our guide, What Fire Safety Regulations Apply to Contract Furniture?
Furnish your staffroom with Rosehill
We hope you’ve found our guide to buying furniture for your staffroom both useful and interesting.
As you’ve probably already gathered, the team at Rosehill has a huge amount of experience helping schools (and educational institutions of all kinds) find the perfect furniture that meets their needs at the right price.
Our long-term relationships with all the major UK and European contract furniture manufacturers means we are able to offer bulk buy discounts that you just won’t find anywhere else. What’s more, Rosehill also offers free delivery on orders over £950 (for customers with a UK mainland shipping address).
If you’re going to buy staffroom furniture, it has to be Rosehill.
Speak to us now about your staffroom furniture requirements
For more commercial and contract furniture buying guides, information and advice, read the Rosehill blog…
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