The “headmaster’s study” is the stuff of legend. Depicted in endless school dramas as shrines to discipline and authority, they have an emotional hold on many even after they have left school.
But what are today’s school leaders’ offices and studies really like? Are they places of retreat for calm strategizing, or busy social spaces endlessly receiving parents, staff and visitors? Are they boardrooms and nerve centres for serious business or homely zones frequently by children and dogs?
We asked school leaders to tell us about their offices and studies and what they meant to them, and it seems there as many office set-ups as there are heads.
We hope their words provide some unique insights for the office-curious – and not too much envy for the office-challenged.
“I sit with my back to the windows if I’ve brought a takeaway back to the desk” – Dr Michael Gray, Hereford Cathedral School
When it comes to a headmaster’s office, the phrase “location, location, location” has never been truer. As a school located around the Cathedral Close of Hereford, I am fortunate enough to look out on one of the great ancient churches of our country. In fact, on day one of my headship, I moved my desk to the other side of the room to ensure the best view.
This works both ways, of course, and the path outside my window is a main thoroughfare and very visible for the staff, pupils, parents and the public passing by. While there are lots of advantages to this visibility, it does limit privacy and risks erroneous hypotheses as to why someone is meeting with the headmaster. It means I make sure that I sit with my back to the windows if I’ve brought a takeaway back to the desk after an evening commitment.
“The office is somewhat dominated by the colour brown.”
With oak flooring, and coffee-coloured curtains and chairs, the office is somewhat dominated by the colour brown, with brightness punctuating the room in the form of some recently added photographs of our boarding house and the inside of the Cathedral. I also have a Leeds United shirt on show, which is definitely a conversation-starter.
My office would undoubtedly benefit from a bit more aesthetic uplift: The fireplace looks rather bare, and it is to the chagrin of the marketing department that the old school logo is still on the mat behind my desk.
“It hasn’t been entirely easy making this museum showpiece a functioning office” – Helen Hoffmann, Hereford Cathedral Junior School
I am blessed to work in a seventeenth century room, complete with its original dark oak panelling and a baroque plasterwork ceiling. Like a gem from the National Trust, this eighteen-foot square space was created in the Age of Enlightenment, at a time when Purcell, Handel or Bach could have stood in its space. I know that it’s unlikely that they did, but that connection to over three hundred years of past makes for a very special space which never fails to impress my visitors.
Two large-paned sash windows look out upon the children’s play area, as well as the modern buildings of our Pre-Prep and a blossoming magnolia tree. Inside, bookcases line one wall floor to ceiling, there’s a conference table for six and a cream comfy sofa and armchair around a coffee table. I chose the curtains and cushions: think William Morris/arts and crafts movement in duck egg blue.
The shelves themselves are “curated” with interesting books and objets d’art on the shelves. Alongside beautiful hardback editions, there are idiosyncratic things like a hand-knitted recreation of my pet cockapoo, Lottie.The real floppy dog makes the occasional visit to snooze in the corner and then likes nothing more than to go and play with the children in the nursery. She’s seen as a popular addition!
“Yes, there’s a little stagecraft in this, I’ll concede. But isn’t headship all about stagecraft?”
It hasn’t been entirely easy making this museum showpiece a functioning office. When the chaps came to install the wifi I made a point that you couldn’t slap a white plastic box on the wall and that it had to be hidden in the cupboard. Two widescreen monitors on the Victorian desk are bulging with hundreds of emails, problems and tasks. But they are turned to the corner of the room, so that the guest, whether that’s a colleague, parent or pupil, is not drawn to the mundane business of my work.
Yes, there’s a little stagecraft in this, I’ll concede. But isn’t headship all about stagecraft? Here I present to the world, something that outwardly appears orderly and pleasing to the eye. In return, I am hoping that it will perhaps calm my visitor, or give them confidence, or provide them with the mental space to plan something fresh and visionary. Who knows?
This office makes me feel very at home in the world and I hope that it feels the same for all who have the pleasure to share it with me.
“Having both an office and a study has been a revelation” – Annie Gent, head of Sherborne Prep School
After taking the helm at Sherborne Prep in January, I found myself with two spaces. My old deputy head’s office and my head’s study. It might seem rather greedy I realise. But it has been a revelation. My “office” is situated right in the heart of the school. It’s a thoroughfare for all; a mishmash of furniture. There’s a cosy sofa to curl up on, a white board to create hilarious artwork and a safe space for the children and staff to come and flop, talk, laugh and offload.
In contrast, my study is a haven of calm with muted colours and altogether more “grown up”. It’s a place I can meet families, deal with difficult situations when they arise and to welcome people. A space where teachers can talk with parents and each other. Of course, though, I am a prep school head, so we cannot be too formal: toys, puzzles and books are finding their way down the stairs for prospective and current children to enjoy. A highlight each week are my hot choc and tasty treat chats with the children. I often have parents say: “It was different in my day, you only went to the head’s office if you were in trouble.” This is not true now – the door is open, come on in. Calm is lovely, but laughter even more so.
Following in the footsteps of Dumbledore – Rob Ford, Heritage International School, Moldova
My previous head’s room at Wyedean School came with some history as it was the study of the first head, Ken Smith, the inspiration for JK Rowling’s “Dumbledore”. I made sure the room was a place for conversation, for meetings, for people to feel calm and reassured. Many difficult conversations go on between the four walls of a head’s room and making it conducive for dialogue and resolution is vital. I needed it to feel open and not intimidating. I have taught my critical thinking, politics and history classes in my rooms. Good sofas are essential.
“I needed it to feel open and not intimidating.”
My rooms at Heritage are bigger and my view is straight out onto the park and trees across the road as well as onto the huge wide soviet thoroughfare of Dacia Boulevard. I have applied the same principles here as well and it was a little unorthodox for some more used to the “Director” being more omnipotent in the organisation. I continue to teach from here, meet from here, the room welcomes families, students, diplomats, CEOs, teachers, from all over the world. There are always flowers and the flags on my desk show the countries we work with. The candy bowl allows the primary school students to come in, grab a sweet and say hello to me.
“A ceremonial sword from my time in the military sits on my desk” – Adam Greenwood, formerly head of The Pointer School, Blackheath, and now a head in the US.
If you’re anything like me, you spend a sufficient amount of time in your office that you want it to be a nice place to be. I wouldn’t have a boring living space at home so why should I at work? I like my space to be somewhere that inspires me, makes me feel happy during my day, shows my personality and is a talking point with visitors that opens conversations about our common interests and curiosities.
“Students are always mesmerized by my collection of Rubik Cubes and Star Wars Lego.”
I have an array of memorabilia from my time in the military, including a ceremonial sword that sits on my desk and a collection of berets from my various Regiments. I like to keep a wide range of books on my shelves that I can give to people when we talk about topics of interest or if a teach is curious about a particular area of pedagogy or practice. I also have treasured gifts from former students and colleagues that take pride of place, such as a Colfe’s School logo cut from an OS Map that a teacher made for me when I left the geography department there.
Students are always mesmerized by my collection of Rubik Cubes and Star Wars Lego. I hope one day they’ll look back on their time at school with fond memories and think what a curious little room it was.
“It’s important that your study reflects you as a person and a head” – Colin Baty, head of Dunhurst, Bedales’ Prep
I feel the space I use is very informal. Prospective parents or staff often say it feels welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere. Pupils love it and enjoy it too, when my door is open. My golden retriever/poodle Bella shares the space too and is very accustomed to sitting quietly in her bed (made by my daughter in design at the school) — although she sometimes prefers a chair.
At other times, doors close and private considered conversations happen, and I hope it gives those who enter time to reflect, feel supported and cared for.
An added stand-up desk in the corner looks over a pinboard with things that inspire me and make me reflect. I love my study (I don’t think of it as an office) and considering heads do spend a fair amount of time in there, it is important to reflect you as a person and a head.
“The layout reminds me that my focus needs to be on building up our strategy.” – Dr Andy Kemp, The National Mathematics and Science College in Coventry
My office doubles up as a boardroom. It’s the strategic heart of the college, in the corner looking out on the grounds I have my desk and computer, but the main focus of the room is a large board table – with a whiteboard surface. This gives us space to think and share ideas and work together to shape the future of the college, and the layout reminds me that my focus needs to be on building up our strategy, but that this is a collaborative task not one for me to do in isolation.