How To Settle into Your New School 

Starting a teaching job in a new school can be exciting and daunting in equal measure.

It can also be pretty challenging – whether you are a newly qualified teacher or the new Deputy Head – not least because all eyes are on you; students and staff!

Here are a few top tips for how to settle into your new school.

Set Yourself Some Goals

It’s a fresh start and a clean slate, so your new position in a new school can be what you make it. There are always going to be a few variables and factors that you can’t do anything about, so focus on what you can influence yourself.

It’s always a good idea to set yourself some goals and plan ahead for where you’d like to be in your new role in six months, a year, or two years. Whether these are formalised as a part of the performance management process or are personal, targets and goals are always useful to have.

Get To Know the Students

The students are what any school is all about and you should get to know as many of them as quickly as you can in your new school.

Obviously, the kids you have in front of you take precedence but make a point of chatting to and taking an interest in the students you encounter on the corridors or in the canteen, or on the yard when you are on duty, for example.

It will help you feel less of a newbie and make your new school feel like a comfortable new home.

Build Relationships

As we said above, the students are the whole point of a school but what really makes things tick are the positive relationships teachers build with them.

But, or course, these are not the only relationships you need to build in a new school.

There are your colleagues in your department or faculty; the senior leadership team; catering staff; cleaners, and caretakers.

All of them play a vital role and are part of the team.

You should build relationships with them all.

Have a Presence Around the School

Whether you are a classroom teacher or are starting a leadership/management position, you should try to be visible around the school.

Your classroom is your kingdom and if you have the luxury of your own office, it’s a sanctuary – but you shouldn’t hide away in either.

The school day can be frenetic and fast-paced but it’s still a good idea to visit the main staff room daily, to chat to people, and – as above – to start building those all-important relationships.

A brew and a chat at lunchtime or at the end of the school day can be really therapeutic.

Importantly, it will also make you feel a part of the whole-school.

Final Words

Of course, ultimately, whatever your role is, the priority is ‘doing your job.’ However, whether this is focusing on delivering the best lessons you can or fulfilling whatever other responsibilities you have, there is always more to teaching than simply doing your job.

Becoming an active member of the school community will not only help you settle into your new school, it will also make you feel that you belong there too.