Classroom observation 'not used effectively'

An online survey of members by the teachers’ union the NASUWT has found huge variation in the range and extent of classroom observation going on in schools up and down the country.

Lack of consistency
One in five teachers responding were only observed once a year, while the same proportion were observed more than six times during the same period. More than one-third thought that the system of observation was not applied consistently and fairly across their school.

The finding that potentially has the most worrying consequences for improving teaching and learning was that nearly half of the teachers taking part in the survey received no written feedback after an observation, with 40% not even being given oral feedback.

End ‘punitive monitoring’
As a result of the survey, the union is calling on the Government to make changes to secure more consistent and effective practice across schools.

‘The Union is seeking an end to excessive, punitive monitoring, the introduction of an entitlement for all teachers to supportive, developmental classroom observation, an annual limit on the amount and clear written feedback on the outcome,’ said General Secretary Chris Keates.