The Quest for My Good School
Quality in school education consists of happy teachers, a good student-teacher ratio, modern equipment, and adequate facilities. But the real quest is for professional learning that transforms schools.
The focus must be on creating an environment where:
Experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study — this can consolidate and bring to life learning which would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated.
Encouraging students to become involved in activities in the community outside the confines of the school curriculum will help develop their confidence, knowledge and contacts to follow passion after leaving school.
With teachers encouraging young people, they can take full advantage of what both the school and outside interests can offer; this can be a key factor in their progressing successfully through adolescence into rewarding and fulfilling adult life.
Quality in school education consists of happy teachers, a good student-teacher ratio, modern equipment, adequate space and classroom facilities. A good school brings together the parents, students, teachers and the management to partner for the personal and social development of the child.
Why Professional Learning Is the Key to This Quest
Professional learning means a comprehensive, sustained and intensive approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising student achievement. Our belief:
- The purpose of professional learning is to ensure a comprehensive, sustained, and intensive approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising student achievement.
- Professional learning strives to go beyond standardised testing to promote authentic learning experiences and the application of knowledge and skills.
- Professional learning is aligned with rigorous student academic achievement standards, as well as related affiliation standards of state and central boards and guidelines for school improvement goals.
- Professional learning regularly assesses the effectiveness of achieving identified learning goals, improving teaching, assisting all students in meeting challenging academic achievement standards.
- The success of the students is affected by sustained professional learning conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by well-prepared school principals and school-based professional learning trainers, coaches, mentors, and master teachers.
- Professional learning is a continuous cycle of improvement, which evaluates the student, teacher, and school learning needs through a thorough review of data on teacher and student performance.
- Effective professional learning honours differences in student and adult learners by using various approaches to learning and assessment.
- Educators have the right to expect excellence in their professional learning and have the power to achieve it. All educators share the responsibility for their own individual growth as well as that of their organisations.
- Professional learning is most effective when supported by an organisational culture that fosters learning for all.
- Collaboration and fostering collective responsibility for improved student performance within the school community is essential for school improvement and student success.
The Path Forward
School improvement will happen only when the School Board and the Management support the principal in creating an environment that nurtures excellence, trust, risk-taking and creativity. The Faculty and staff must develop meaningful relationships, build collaboration and action teams for solving priority learning issues, and share findings across the school toward becoming an authentic learning community.
The outcome of the change process for developing new teaching and learning must be to measurably improve student performance.
Sandeep Dutt is a School Improvement Coach with over 40 years of experience transforming schools across India and Singapore. He is the author of My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education and founder of the Good Schools Alliance. He runs the Good Schools Masterclass for school leaders, principals, and educators.