Invisible spaces, visible opportunities: The use of school common areas in teaching practices in Greek schools

This study investigates how primary schools in Greece leverage “in-between” common areas (corridors, courtyards, entrances, libraries) as pedagogically meaningful spaces. Using a mixed-method survey with embedded open-ended questions, the study queried teachers to map uses, perceived educational value, and barriers. Participants were in-service primary teachers from diverse school contexts (urban, semi-urban, rural). Quantitative data were collected via a researcher-developed, literature-informed questionnaire that was pilot-tested for clarity and item functioning; qualitative insights came from optional open-ended responses. Internal consistency was estimated with Cronbach’s α. Because the main outcomes were Likert-type single items (ordinal), a normality-based parametric decision rule was not applied; instead, non-parametric tests were used throughout for Likert responses, while χ2 was reserved for categorical variables. Results indicate very high recognition of the learning potential of common areas and widespread -though uneven- use: libraries and courtyards are most often prioritized for socio-emotional aims, while stairwells and canteens are typically deprioritized and seldom selected. Reported barriers cluster around infrastructure/material shortages, time and supervision demands, and local regulations, with some variation by school location. No statistically significant associations were observed between the extent of integration of common areas and the attitudinal items. The study contributes to a practice-oriented typology of spaces/uses and highlights low-cost design and policy levers (zoning, flexible equipment, clear supervision routines) to better integrate common areas as extensions of the classroom.