The September classroom reset – a back-to-school checklist for teachers

A few weeks into the new school year is the best time to examine how your classroom is working 

The classroom looked ready on the first day of term…then your pupils arrived! 

Once pupils are using the space every day, teachers start to notice the storage they can’t reach, the classroom layout that creates a bottleneck, or the resources that aren’t being used quite as expected. 

Before those little frustrations become part of the furniture, here are seven things worth checking. 

1. Is your classroom layout working? 

A classroom layout that makes sense when the room is empty can feel very different with 30 pupils moving around it. 

Look for pinch points around doors, storage and frequently used resources. Can pupils move between activities easily? Can you get around the room to support them? And does the furniture give you enough flexibility for individual, group and whole-class learning? 

Quick check: Watch what happens during transitions. Where pupils regularly queue, collide or need help can tell you a lot about how well the space is working. 

2. Can pupils find what they need? 

Good classroom organisation should help pupils become more independent. 

Can they find, reach or  return the resources they use regularly without asking? Are labels clear? Are the most-used items stored close to where they’re needed? 

Sometimes a small change to where something lives can remove dozens of interruptions throughout the  week. 

3. Is your classroom storage helping? 

Look at what has already started accumulating on desks and surfaces. What keeps ending up in the wrong place? Which cupboards are becoming difficult to manage? 

Before investing in more classroom storage, work out whether the problem is really capacity – or whether resources simply need reorganising or relocating. 

4. Is your classroom furniture still fit for purpose? 

Check tables, chairs and storage for damage, instability or excessive wear, but think about how well they work too. 

Is furniture appropriately sized for your pupils? Does it support the way the classroom is being used? Can it be moved or reconfigured when needed? 

If something does need replacing, consider more than the initial price. Durability, maintenance, suitability for an education setting and supplier support can all make a difference over the lifetime of the furniture. 

5. Is the classroom accessible to everyone? 

Once the classroom is busy, accessibility issues can become much easier to spot. 

Can every pupil move around comfortably and access the resources they need? Are there areas where noise, visual clutter or congestion create unnecessary barriers? 

Thinking about the experiences of individual pupils, rather than an ‘average’ pupil can reveal relatively simple changes that make the classroom more inclusive. 

6. Are your classroom displays useful? 

Ask yourself some simple questions here and be honest – are they serving a purpose? 

Displays might support learning, provide information, celebrate pupils’ work or create a sense of belonging. Pay attention to  what pupils naturally engage with and what they ignore. 

If an important display isn’t being used, could it be simplified, repositioned or refreshed? 

7. Which classroom resources are earning their place? 

The first few weeks of term often reveal which resources you and your pupils genuinely rely on, rather than those you expected to use. What’s constantly in use? What’s gathering dust? And where are teachers improvising because something is missing? 

You may be able to move, share or repurpose what you already have. If there is a genuine gap, identifying the need first will help you make a more informed future purchase. 

This may all sound like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be! A great place to start is with our quick guide below. 

If your classroom reset identifies something that needs replacing, take time to find products and suppliers that are right for your setting. 

BESA members provide education products and services across the UK and commit to the BESA Code of Practice, giving schools an additional trust signal when choosing who to buy from. 

You can find education suppliers that are Backed by BESA in our Member Directory.