Reducing the variability of teaching

The UK Department for Education's annual 2011 Ofsted Report notes that "achieving consistently outstanding or good quality teaching across year groups and across subjects remains a challenge for schools." They recommend that SLT:

• "Demonstrate a genuine interest in the work of pupils and teachers and promote professional dialogue that is focused fully on pupils’ learning and progress."
• "Encourage teaching staff to consider different teaching approaches that extend the repertoire of teaching techniques that can be deployed effectively."
• Use classroom observation and discussion of practice; in some "successful schools staff observe each other’s lessons, which are planned together and sometimes taught together." 
• In meetings to "dialogue is focused on pedagogic practice. Peripheral issues are sidelined."

(page 55)