Teacher feedback tool
Part of the Great Teaching Toolkit
Summary
The teacher feedback tool takes the form of student surveys in each of the four dimensions from the Model for Great Teaching:
- Understanding the content
- Creating a supportive environment
- Maximising opportunity to learn
- Activating hard thinking
Designed by Prof Rob Coe and trialled in schools and colleges, these instruments are easy to administer and give teachers accessible and actionable feedback about their practice.
Surveys are administered online, with students responding to questions relating to their classroom experiences. They can be completed in part of a lesson or given as homework.
When teachers themselves make the decision about what it is that they wish to prioritise for their own professional development, they are more likely to make it work.β
Dylan Wiliam
The reports
All feedback about a teacherβs practice is confidential to that teacher. For maximum benefit, we hope that teachers will want to share this feedback and associated actions with trusted colleagues. After all, feedback will likely highlight elements of practice that are truly great! This should be celebrated, and such experience could be used to help others within the school, creating systems of support. Great Teaching is happening every day in schools across the world!
Information you can act on!
There is already a good body of research that shows student surveys can provide valid measures of classroom environment and teaching practices (egΒ Marsh and Roche, 1997;Β Gates Foundation, 2012;Β SpoorenΒ et al, 2013). The surveys also give students a voice in teaching and learning, and the feedback they generate can be a powerful tool for teacher learning β offering additional insight that allows teachers and leaders to personalise professional development.
- Teachers receive the responses of their class(es) with comparator information, so they can see how their studentsβ perceptions compare with those of similar students taught by other teachers. This informs their development over time.
- Leaders receive a summary, at school level, of how studentsβ perceptions in each dimension compare to those in other schools. This informs the professional development priorities and provides additional insight into where Great Teaching already exists!
Unique insight to personalise your professional learning
Use of the surveys is free for individual teachers with a Great Teaching Toolkit: Starter Account. Use the surveys and feedbackΒ to:
- Answer the question βWhat can I best focus on to improve that will optimise student learning?β
- Make evidence-based, personalised decisions about how to use precious time for professional development.
- Generate insights to better understand classroom climate.
- Give students aΒ voiceΒ in teaching and learning.
- Contribute to active and ongoing research.
What else is included alongside the Toolkit Instruments?

Assessment Lead Programme

Science of Learning Programme

Behaviour and Culture Programme

Creating a supportive environment

Maximising opportunity to learn

Structuring

Explaining

Questioning

Interacting

Embedding

Activating

An evidence-based approach to Great Teaching

Video observation & feedback
