Teaching, at its core, is about people; it’s about working collaboratively, building relationships and guiding our students through their childhoods. 

It’s no wonder, then, that many teachers have found the transition to online working very difficult. We’re used to being in buzzing rooms full of young people, responding to their needs immediately, responding to their social cues. 

We’re also used to being with our departments. We share ideas, we discuss lessons that have gone well, or not so well, and we support each other. Without physically being in the same space, many teachers in departments all over the country are feeling increasingly alone. 

When we return to school (whether on 1 June for primary teachers, or 15 June for secondary), it’s going to be even more important than ever that teachers feel part of the team within their departments. 

How to rebuild your department

So how can we rebuild our teams after going through something that’s been life-changing for us all?

1. Meet your team where they are

Lockdown has been different for all of us. Some will have been fairly lucky and found the experience not too tricky, but others will have struggled with the enforced time at home. Some of our staff may have had direct experience with Covid-19, and some may have lost family members or friends. It’s important that heads of department are mindful of every person’s different circumstances and that we support staff in a way that’s right for them. 

2. Shield, shield, shield

School leaders are going to be under pressure when we return, there’s no doubt about that. And just as headteachers and senior leaders will be doing their best to keep those pressures off the shoulders of middle leaders, we, in turn, need to shield our teachers from as much of that stress as possible. Our staff need to teach, mark and plan, and we need to help them to stay focused on these parts of their jobs. There’s been so much in the news about GCSEs and Sats and how they’ll be impacted, but we must try to keep these worries out of the classroom as far as we can.

3. Getting back on the horse

After such a long break from the classroom under such stressful circumstances, many people will be anxious about going back into the classroom. Anxiety and stress can make us doubt ourselves, so devote some time to what your team needs. This could mean using a department meeting to go over some of the key points from a topic, or it could be holding a discussion where staff can share ideas about classroom practice or behaviour management. Whatever it is, it’s important we help our staff get their confidence back.

4. It’s not just about the job

We spend a lot of time at school. Not everyone is close friends with members of their department, but it’s important to remember that human beings are social creatures. Breaks; lunches; those little snatched moments in corridors. These are vital interaction times.

If your department has a staff room, use it. Encourage everyone to leave the job at the door, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Model actually sitting down and eating something. Show interest in your staff. Be there for each other. Make sure there’s a safe space. Lockdown has been hard for many of us, and emotions don’t just switch off because we’re back at school.

5. Those who are just starting out

You may have NQTs or students in your department who have had one of their training years cut incredibly short and have missed out on professional development. They will undoubtedly need extra support. In addition to the formal support offered by your school’s NQT/ITT programme, they may need you to make extra time to check in with them before or after school, or to stick your head in between classes and give them a quick smile so they remember they’re not on their own. These are things you will likely already do, but those new teachers will need this now even more than ever. 

Whatever you do with your department when we return to school, remember this: we really are all in this together and whilst our students and their education are vitally important, we can’t achieve anything unless we take care of our staff. 

Katherine Childs is head of English at Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth, Dorset