Equip, Inspire, and Elevate: Practical Tools to Improve Pupil Progress and Classroom Practice

This webinar is designed for classroom teachers, middle leaders, and senior leaders in both primary and secondary schools, as well as those working in Multi-Academy Trusts. Whether you are seeking to embed the latest evidence-informed strategies, refresh your knowledge of cognitive science, or refine your school’s approach to teaching and learning, this session will provide you with the tools, frameworks, and confidence to drive improvement across your setting.

Webinar Outline

Part 1: What Makes Great Teaching?

• Exploring the findings of What Makes Great Teaching? (Coe et al., 2014).
• The two most powerful drivers of pupil progress: content knowledge and quality of instruction.
• Common teaching myths to avoid – and why letting go of ineffective practices frees teachers to focus on what works.

Part 2: Principles of Effective Teaching and Learning

• Practical applications of the Education Endowment Foundation’s evidence base.
• The Great Teaching Toolkit: how to use its dimensions to structure teaching, CPD, and whole-school development.
• Linking cognitive science to planning: retrieval, spacing, and scaffolding to support memory and long-term learning.

Part 3: Behaviour, Relationships and Belonging

• How classroom climate and consistent routines support pupil progress.
• Building trust and motivation through relationships, with a focus on belonging and becoming.
• Using behaviour policy to create safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environments.

Part 4: Assessment, Feedback and Adaptive Practice

• Assessment for learning: checking prior knowledge and using evidence to adapt teaching.
• Feedback that sticks: strategies to give pupils clear, actionable feedback without creating unmanageable workload.
• Meeting individual needs while balancing staff workload: effective deployment of teaching assistants and collaboration with families and professionals.

Summary

• Key pitfalls to avoid (such as over-reliance on discovery learning or learning styles).
• Recap of the six dimensions of effective teaching.
• Strategies for embedding a culture of continuous improvement in your school.
• Opportunities for follow-up and ongoing development.

Presenter Profile

Malcolm Drakes is an executive leadership consultant who works with the National Institute of Teaching and Teach First, designing leadership courses, supporting school improvement and delivering National Professional Qualifications. He has been a Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and National Leader of Education, typically working with schools in disadvantaged communities.

Feedback from this course

"Attending the ‘Raising Standards in Teaching and Learning’ webinar gave us a clear framework for focusing on what really matters. The combination of practical strategies, research insights, and myth-busting gave our staff confidence to make changes that immediately impacted pupil engagement and outcomes."
S Clarke, Teaching & Learning Consultant

Cost: £150 per delegate

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