Is it just me or are staffroom politics horrendous?

[superstarheartbreaker]

I know that there is politics everywhere but it does seem particularly bad in schools. Just me?

Not in my school. SMT are ... interesting, but no politics in the staffroom. Try a different school - I'm sure some can be horrific.

Our staff room was lovely earlier this year. However, due to a series of unfortunate events we have a new Head at this late stage of the year and everyone, disappointingly, seems to have gone into "arse covering and sod the rest of you" mode.
I avoid the staff room these days.

horrible. Playground behaviour in adults just isn't fun

No teachers venture into our staff room. The TAs and their nasty gossip have a complete monopoly

Yes - vile. We have a staff room with a long table at one end which has been dubbed 'the top table' because the leadership team and their clique sit their and eat lunch. The rest of us have the comfy seats!
I've learned never to get involved or take sides - makes life more pleasant. I come home and rah to DH instead!

When I first started no one ate lunch in the staff room or had coffee at break. Then we got new furniture and some lively new staff. It's great now, there is a group there every day and now we have decking and tables so it's nice to sit and chill.

Our staffroom is a hoot. We all seem to get along, thankfully. Even with the SMT. And it's been like that for years.

Never go to the staff room - no time. And even if I did go, it's deserted, so I might as well sit on my own in my room.

It's lovely at my school. We've been through SM together and everyone who ever leaves talks about how supportive the staff as a whole is.

Are you primary or secondary OP?

I am very lucky in my school, have been in schools where the staffroom was dire.

We have very short breaks and based in part of school furthest from staffroom, but I make a point of going to staff room at least once a week, just to see people and remember that we are not alone. As a relatively new member of staff it has been really valuable getting know my colleagues from other departments.
Point in case this week, 5 minute chat resulted in someone else setting up a world cup sweepstake and Friday nights at a local pub to "track the progress" of said sweepstake.

I think staff rooms are very important - it gets a bit 'divide and conquer' otherwise. I also think that, however busy we are (and I know we are) we shouldn't say we are 'too busy' to take a break. In any other job it would be illegal. Everyone should make a point of having at least a half hour lunch break whatever else is going on. I can't see how you can perform well in the afternoon without it, tbh, so it's self-defeating not to.

I only see mine in passing, but it's a nice place to be. There are friendship groups and there are staff members who aren't fans of others, but we're all professional and courteous and we band together quickly when we need to support each other. No politics going on in ours. There's too much external politics to fight without starting wars within!

try another school.

Our staffroom is fab-really lively and happy. Always someone there to offload to and get a bit of tea and sympathy if needed.

The layout in a lot of staffrooms is all wrong.
Lots of chairs round a central low table - It's like being at a meeting.

I think it would be better if there were little groups of chairs - break it up a bit and make it more friendly.

Mine is very nice, but it is what you make it.

When I first joined the school, I made it a point to sit with different groups of people.

Now there about 4-5 different people who I sit with regularly.

Ours is lovely, even the bores are quite sweet in 10 minute doses.

Sadly my visits are infrequent - always seem to need to be doing something. Seems to be the same for most of my colleagues - perhaps absence makes our hearts grow fonder towards one another!

Consider moving to another school if you are lacking companionship from your colleagues. For me it´s an essential factor in the "plus" side of my job.

Ours is lovely. First time in 16 years of teaching I can say that though! It's a bit rundown, unlike the rest of the dress-to-impress school. It sometimes goes silent when SMT come in. They haven't managed to divide and rule us yet...