School space and the future of teaching

FORUM - Print ISSN 1474-7685 - Online ISSN 2047-7171
Volume 68 Number 2 (2026)

School space and the future of teaching
Benjamin Cleveland pages 26‑36
DOI: 10.3898/forum.2026.68.2.05

Abstract

This paper explores the notion of strategically redesigning schools to improve teachers’ work conditions, asking ‘What would schools look like if they were designed as great places for teachers to work?’. Creatively examining concepts including ‘experience design’, ‘organisational transformation’, and innovative ‘policy and governance frameworks’, it is argued that new teaching and leadership models will be needed in future if the teaching profession is to be attractive to working professionals and thrive. Both the frontstage and backstage settings of teachers’ work environments are considered, with attention to organisational, physical and technological components. The overarching objective of the paper is to suggest that through redesigning school spaces, new forms of collegiality, belonging and teamwork may be cultivated to enhance teachers’ physical and mental well-being, productivity and workplace satisfaction.

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To cite this article
Benjamin Cleveland (2026) School space and the future of teaching, FORUM, 68(2), 26-36 . https://doi.org/10.3898/forum.2026.68.2.05

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