SpeakUp

Grammar fix

school staff

employees

All the people who work at a school, including teachers, administrators, and support workers.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The school staff organized a meeting to discuss the new safety rules.education
  • In my opinion, good communication between students and school staff is important for a positive learning environment.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: school staff + verb

WrongThe school staffs are very friendly.

RightThe school staff are very friendly.

'Staff' is normally uncountable — no plural 'staffs'.

Patternschool staff + verb

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The institution's personnel were notified of the change.

Natural The school staff were told about the change.

'School staff' is plain; 'institution's personnel' is corporate.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • school staff + context
    the school staffteaching staffstaff meetingsupport staff

Don't confuse it

'Teachers' only refers to people who teach, but 'school staff' also includes office workers, cleaners, and others.

Try it in Daily Speak →