Priorities, Dynamics and Ethos

Abstract

One of the ways to ascertain headteachers’ views on their priorities is to invite them to describe an expert teacher. When asked, all 12 interviewees gave immediate responses. I very much had the impression that it was an issue that they had all thought about and that they had clear views on the subject. The following reflections are typical. An expert teacher is someone

who has fantastic subject knowledge; one who is very good at leading and managing children in the classroom, making lessons exciting, catering for different types of learners; somebody who plans effectively; somebody who fits in with school policies and programmes — very much a team-player, supports others, evaluates critically. When you walk into his or her classroom it is exciting, the environment is exciting, they are using resources in an imaginative way. And the children make progress. It’s about children making progress, both within lessons and over time. And then reflecting what they are doing and analysing what they are doing at different intervals, so that they are assessing children all the way along and then modifying and changing as they go. (Debra)