Let’s be real, most school staffrooms feel like a chaotic extension of the classroom. Timetables, calendars, union notices, and the ever-present smell of reheated coffee fill the air. It’s an unspoken rule that the staffroom is your second office, a place where work never truly stops.
But then, I stumbled into a different kind of staffroom at Aranda Primary School in the ACT. A space so free of educational clutter, I half-expected a scented candle and a therapist to appear. There were no term calendars, no judgmental student photos, just comfortable chairs whispering, “Sit down, relax, do absolutely nothing.” And the best part? A clear, bold rule: NO WORK ALLOWED. No laminating, no laptops, no assessment marking and no cutting out!
A Zen Retreat in the Middle of Chaos
The moment I walked in; I noticed the difference. No laminated schedules, no classroom posters urging productivity. The walls were bare, the air was calm – you know, more yoga studio, less war zone. It was a sacred space where teachers weren’t expected to analyse data, discuss student behaviour, or answer endless emails. This was a break from thinking about school altogether.
Instead of school talk, conversations meandered into blissfully non-educational territory—TV shows, weekend plans, even a wild tale about a cockatoo stealing a piece of pizza. (True story, I was there.)
Teachers as Humans, Not Machines
At first, I felt concerned. Shouldn’t teachers be using this time to plan lessons or discuss student behaviour management? But then I remembered—the rule. No work. No guilt. Just pure, unfiltered downtime.
This wasn’t just a break; it was a reclamation of humanity. Teachers spend their days juggling responsibilities, and for once, we were allowed to just be. No assessments, no lesson objectives—just a well-earned moment of peace.
A Future We Deserve
As I left the magical, work-free staffroom, I thought: This needs to be a thing everywhere. Imagine a world where every staffroom was a true sanctuary? A place where teachers could exist as people, not just professionals drowning in paperwork.
Teachers need this. We all do. A space to breathe, sip coffee, and talk about anything besides school. So, here’s to the dream of every school adopting a ‘No work’ staffroom. The future of staffrooms is here, a place to take a mental break in the middle of a dynamic school day.
Check out other articles Sheila has written here.