The Great School Framework

TThe core business of great schools is high-quality learning for all.

• Teachers provide well-targeted challenge and employ excellent classroom organisation and behaviour management skills. They continually seek to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills.
• Staff members have considered collectively what constitutes deep learning at all phases and put in place effective processes and practice and varied teaching techniques to maximise achievement and attainment. They foster a genuine love of and thirst for learning.
• Teachers’ excellent subject knowledge consistently challenges and inspires pupils.
• Learning is carefully planned to meet individual needs, interests and current standard of attainment, so as to maximise pupils’ engagement and enable excellent rates of progress for all (including learners with SEND and the highest attainers).
• Pupils are taught to learn independently. There is opportunity for mastery through practice, preparation, elaboration and exploration. Building independent skills paves the way for future study and life-long learning and seamlessly links one lesson’s learning to the next.
• Assessment for Learning is very well developed and consistently utilised. There are regular opportunities for learning dialogues, self and peer-assessment and diagnostic and developmental feedback, based on accurate and robust pupil performance data.

The constant promotion of self-esteem, through high expectations and ambition, leads to the pupils assuming responsibility for their learning and behaviour. Pupils are encouraged and expected to aim high. They are provided with information, advice and guidance on future opportunities to enable them to make informed and aspirational choices and to prepare for the next stage of their learning.

Enrichment is every pupil’s entitlement: opportunities to learn beyond the classroom inspire and motivate pupils and lead to outstanding achievement.