From good to great through peer coaching

Our program empowers teachers as peer coaches, equipped with powerful techniques to accelerate learning outcomes in their classroom.

School leaders get instructional leadership training and tools to lead the program and create an environment where every teacher can go from good to great.

The instructional coaching approach we use has been shown to highly effective and the types of techniques we found to improve learning outcomes.

School leaders enrol their school

Our partners identify schools and invite school leaders to have their teachers join the program. The program is ‘whole school’ and every teacher participates.

We provide a full program of support

School leaders and teachers are provided with initial training, ongoing support and the tools and support they need to then setup and run regular peer observation and coaching cycles.

These tools range from coaching decision trees and apps to session guides and training resources. Teachers get trained to use these things through a series of workshops.

Our workshops combine theory and practice. Teachers practice powerful techniques to explore the science that underpins them.

Covering key principles of learning

Theory sessions cover 12 Principles of Learning Science. Exploring the cognitive science and motivation theory underpinning techniques helps teachers understand them deeply.

Practice sessions focus on 9 teaching challenges

Each focuses on a single challenge and gives teachers three techniques to tackle it. Teachers practice the techniques, explore why they work, and get ready to use them.

Teachers partner through peer coaching cycles

Each month, teachers use peer to focus on one of the nine teaching challenges. They observe each other, give feedback and practice together. The coaching process is supported by decision trees, frameworks and tools we provide.

Supported by school leader coaching

School leaders oversee the program lead peer feedback meetings and observe their teachers every third cycle. They get supported and trained in this process. Leaders opt to run every two weeks. In some locations, our Fellows help schools in an accelerated program involving three cycles each week.

Cycles start with a 20-minute peer observation

Teachers observe a part of their partner lesson. They focus on one challenge of teaching and use an observation tool with precise criteria which helps guide their feedback.

Teachers then give each other precise feedback

Each cycle, the school leader runs a peer coaching meeting where give each other precise feedback on what went well, how it could be better. They identify a technique to practice.

Teachers take turns to practice together

The practice process prepares them to use techniques in their classroom. Each new coaching cycle revisits the last one’s goals.

Ongoing support for school leaders

As well as being guided through the process by tools school leaders get a program ongoing. We are now working to partner with districts and governments to embed the program, evaluate it and scale it up.

“This program has given me new skills and ideas that have given me a greater awareness of the progress of my pupils.”

Gideon, Primary Teacher, Uganda