ABSTRACT

Data systems are designed to enable teams to explore patterns and issues, to give visibility and clarity to staff about the effectiveness of their practice. Many schools design burdensome data systems with a view to rapidly identifying 'weak performance' and to otherwise allow senior leaders to make decisions about the training that should be given to staff based on test scores or one-off observations. Exceptional schools are not just data rich, but data smart. While there is a quiet, background process of checking on effectiveness, most of the evidence gathering is targeted, to empower teachers and teaching assistants to make smarter decisions. Places of learning where teachers are scholars of research, where intellectual rigour and debate are cherished, where management efforts are focused primarily on growth instead of monitoring. School leaders are not engaged in monitoring and telling, but they create an effective and challenging environment where every teacher is stretched to learn and contribute.