The 8 Principles of Effective TeachingGreat learning for students and staff is at the heart of SBL’s community and underpins our students’ ambitions for their futures. Through consistently inspiring and challenging teaching we aim to promote a culture of excellence where our students are motivated to develop the expert knowledge, deep understanding and resilience to strive for success and realise their highest ambitions.

Expect the Best• Challenge passivity• Ability can change – avoid labels• Abandon preconceptions – look at potential• Encourage aspirations• Practice perfection

Model and Scaffold• model values and behaviour, not just learning• Use modelling and description together to aid

understanding• Tell students what to look for• Model excellent examples and scaffold down• Model the process as well as the product

Build effective relationships• Know your data• Praise the effort• Ensure consistency• Secure boundaries• Involve parents

Make it relevant• Use real-world contexts• Encourage curiosity• Seek believable models

Know your subject• Be excited about your subject• Challenge yourself and let students see it• Stay up to date (Twitter PLNs)• Tackle misconceptions and extend understanding• Help students remember what you need them to

Personalise your teaching• Stretch through challenge• Identify strengths and weaknesses through strong questioning• Use the language of learning• Identify the barriers to each student’s learning• Use Mintclass to show your understanding of your class

Progress using feedback• Explain what to do – describe the solution• Track progress from last feedback and set targets for next piece• Use the school marking policy• Make feedback a requirement to improve performance• Make progress explicit to students after each assessment

Nurture your environment• Display knowledge and understanding, not just artistic skills• Allow students time to be proud of their work• Change and rotate displays, but keep outstanding examples• Praise resilience, practice and effort

The 8 SBL principles of effective teaching will ensure that all teachers are supported to teach to the best of their ability, and all students are supported to learn to the best of their ability. Lightbulb sets out exemplars and strategies for each principle.