Observing for Impact
Training materials aligned to the Ofsted Inspection Handbook
All schools use lesson observation for a range of purposes, but how useful is it for you?
Do you use it to:
- Contribute specifically to your evidence base for pupil progress, attainment and achievement?
- Track the successes and needs of different pupil groups?
- Generate evidence of the impact of school improvement activities?
- Identify the key strengths of learning and teaching to drive future in service training?
- Evaluate whether this training is having the desired impact on individuals and teams?
Get started
The two webpages Purposes of observation and Managing the observation process set the context for the associated training activities. We recommend you download and print the files as these are the ‘maps’ for the training materials. Each presents an overview of aspects of classroom observation with the training activities listed in them.
The webpage ‘Activities’ lists all the training activities in summative form. Each is supported by a downloadable PowerPoint of a few slides that will guide you through self directed activity.
The materials do not endeavour to train you ‘how to observe’ but rather how to get the best from observation and how to organise it to do so.
You do not need to work through all the training materials, or tackle them in numerical order.
Use the two overarching documents (Purposes of observation and Managing the observation process) to assess where you need support or further training and pinpoint the relevant activity.
