Visitors to Wilson’s often remark on the exceptional quality of teaching, which is underpinned by a very thorough professional learning programme. All teachers appointed at Wilson’s are advanced subject experts whose fluent knowledge enables them to produce rich and challenging lessons, but they are then trained in evidence-based pedagogy to enhance their practice further. Our Research Lead, Dr Cook, produces a regular bulletin for teachers (Is There Evidence For That) which can be read here.

The professional learning programme itself is based on the idea that training must respect the subject discipline. During the year, teachers undertake two cycles of Collaborative Lesson Research: planning a lesson with a colleague; teaching, observing and evaluating the lesson together. The planning is informed by wider reading and research (including that undertaken during Reading Week) as well as pupils’ work, which might include exam scripts and reports. Each year, we also select a theme on which much professional learning is based. This year’s is The Attuned Classroom: “one in which the teacher and every pupil are aware throughout a lesson of their collective responsibility to remain attentive (engaging cognitively by questioning and reasoning), unfailingly responding to others in a compassionate and non-judgemental way”.

If you would like to know more about teaching at Wilson’s, please get in touch!