LEADERSHIP in association with
www.usethekey.org.uk
I’m watching you
Lesson
observations can
Armed
be a challenging
aspect of any
manager’s role. Rachel
Pattisson looks at the
with the
secrets of successful
observations
ELP! I’M being observed!”
truth
‘
H
Being observed can be horrible.
It does not matter how experienced
a teacher you are, the words
“lesson” and “observe” in the same
sentence can be more daunting
than class 7B on a bad day.
And this teacher was only being observed by the
very unscary me. I was even less scary at the time – a
mere PGCE student. Her cry for help was written in a
note to the technician.
“Please organise stuff for the acids practical. Help!
I’m being observed by The Student!”
As “the student”, I was in awe of this teacher’s
senior management position and well run department. I
was surprised to learn of her fear, which goes to show
that even the most brilliant teachers can feel a sense of notes on one aspect of the lesson rather than trying to your lesson. I’ve never taught GCSE chemistry before
Key Points
dread when it comes to being watched. comment on everything. and I want to see how it should be done.” • Lesson observations can be an intimidating
It is human nature, apparently. Social psychologists The focus should be relevant to the teacher in some “Thank you,” I would have said at the end. “I’m experience.
have been studying the phenomenon for years. It is way. It could be linked to the teacher’s own professional going to use your idea with my year 10s. I liked the way • Managers are under increasing pressure to observe
called Impostor Syndrome: the feeling that you are not development goals or to whole-school objectives in the you used a quiz as a starter activity too. And by the way, colleagues.
really as good as people think you are. This is often School Improvement Plan. do you have any tips for coping with 7B?” SecEd • Observations should be arranged in advance.
accompanied by worries that you are about to be found Tying in with the previous heading, having agreed • Observations should have a clear, agreed focus.
out and revealed to be a phoney. a focus also means that the observer and teacher can • Rachel Pattisson is a teacher and freelance writer • Feedback should be given promptly and
Impostor Syndrome is very common and is prevalent schedule the observation at an appropriate time. This in Newcastle upon Tyne. Contact her at www. sensitively.
among intelligent, successful people. This in-built fraud ensures that the observation yields the desired results. thoughttrains.co.uk or read her blog, Miss’s Memoirs, • Aim to highlight positives rather than find faults.
feeling is thought to aid performance, as it encourages After all, it would be no good trying to observe practical at http://misssmemoirs.blogspot.com • Share good practice.
individuals to try harder to live up to the expectations skills in a theory lesson, or group work when the
of others. No wonder this teacher found my presence teacher had planned to give a test.
stressful.
Leadership: Key issues
But lesson observations can feel awkward to the
Prompt, relevant feedback
observer, too. Managers are being asked to undertake Feedback should be shared as soon as possible after the
an increasing number of observations, often involving observation while the memory of the lesson is fresh.
older and more experienced colleagues who are not Sufficient time should be allotted for a quality feedback
What should I consider when developing an
amenable to being observed. Within the tight constraints session in which both parties can discuss the outcomes
of timetabling and a never-ending “to-do” list, a good of the observation.
educational visits risk assessment?
manager will try to make the whole observation process That said, the feedback need not be lengthy and
work as smoothly as possible, minimising the pressure ranging. The observer should stick to the agreed focus SCHOOL VISITS are a vital educational tool and For all types of visits, the Department for
on the teacher. It is a tough call. and resist the temptation to impart all their expertise at with proper planning they should pose no greater risk Children, Schools and Families suggests that you
Managers are required to observe colleagues for once. If other issues need to be addressed, these can be to students than lessons in the classroom. take the following factors into account:
a variety of reasons, such as monitoring the quality followed up later, through further lesson observations While pupils are in the care of the school, either • The location, routes and modes of transport.
of teaching, collecting evidence for performance and training programmes. on or off the school site, teachers and other school • The competence, experience and qualifications
management, and checking that school policies are Feedback should be given sensitively, so that the staff have a common duty to act as any reasonably of supervisory staff.
being followed correctly. teacher feels appreciated and supported. Even the prudent parent would do in the same circumstances. • The ratios of teachers and supervisory staff to
Many teachers see lesson observations as an most senior observer can learn something from their And legally, employers have a duty to ensure the pupils.
inconvenience rather than beneficial. However, if colleagues and feedback sessions should be more of a health, safety and welfare of all participants in off- • The group members’ ages, competencies, fitness
properly managed, lesson observations can be a useful shared discussion than a lecture. The observer should site visits. Employers are required to and temperaments.
tool for helping teachers to gain support and share good point out what they thought was good about the lesson assess the risks of activities; introduce • The special educational or medical
practice – such as how to out-smart 7B, for example. and try to limit the mention of “faults”. measures to control those risks; and tell needs of pupils.
Properly managed lesson observations tend to have their employees about these measures. • The quality and suitability of
the following features.
Praise
Completing a risk assessment, equipment.
Praise, if genuinely meant, is always beneficial. Good which is essentially a list of all potential • Seasonal conditions, weather and
Advance planning
pedagogy demands the reinforcement of desirable hazards and how they can be avoided timing.
Formal lesson observations should be arranged in behaviour while ignoring undesirable behaviour. Just as or their impact reduced, will ensure that • Emergency procedures.
advance so that they can take place at a time that suits children benefit from a positive approach, so do adults. pupils, staff and volunteers stay safe for Your assessment should be given to
the teacher. After all, the observer would prefer to Happy teachers who feel valued are bound to perform the duration of the visit. This does not your headteacher and governing body
see the teacher at their best, rather than in the middle better than down-trodden teachers who feel that their have to be unduly burdensome. for approval. Some local authorities
of their most hectic day, struggling with their most best is never good enough. When creating your risk assessment also require a copy, particularly if
difficult class. As a general rule, the ratio of three positive comments you should ask yourself the following the visit is residential or hazardous
While it is not always possible to schedule a lesson for every negative comment is useful to bear in mind. questions: in some way.
observation in advance, staff should not be on a • What are the potential hazards present? Teachers and supervisors on the visit should
permanent state of alert. Teachers can be fore-warned
Share good practice
• Who might be affected by them? also have a copy, so that they are aware of the risks
– “I’ll be dropping in on some lessons this week” – and An observer is in the valuable position of knowing • What safety measures need to be in place to identified.
appreciate being informed of the nature of these visits something about a colleague that other members of reduce risks to an acceptable level? It is a good idea to visit the venue in advance for
– “I’m looking at your use of starter activities,” or staff do not know. If that knowledge includes excellent • Can the group leader put the safety measures in an exploratory visit to assess the potential risks and
“Don’t worry, I’m just keeping an eye on 7B!” teaching strategies and useful resources, the information place? their severity. If this is not feasible, you could contact
Teachers can feel anxious if they think that should be shared. Teaching can be a lonely job with • What steps will be taken in an emergency? the venue to ask about its appropriateness for the
managers are checking on them too frequently. Good little chance to discover what goes on in other people’s You also need to consider different types of visiting group, seek views from other schools that
will is fostered when teachers understand and accept the classrooms. risks depending on the venue or activity. For have recently visited the venue, or ask for further
reason for observations. Teachers always benefit from the chance to share example, the Royal Highland Educational Trust has information from the local tourist board.
experiences and solutions. Publicising good practice a model assessment specifically for children on farm
Agreed focus
has the dual advantage, therefore, of applauding the premises. • Answer by Caroline Cochrane, specialist researcher
The observer and teacher should agree on a focus for teacher concerned while also disseminating useful It includes consideration of risks posed by animal for The Key, a national guidance and support service
the observation. This benefits the teacher who need information to others. behaviour, such as an adult cow protecting its calf for school leaders in maintained schools in England.
not feel under pressure to be excellent at everything It all amounts to good communication. If only I had from a perceived threat, and risks posed by diseases The service provides practical answers to questions
at once. had the opportunity to talk to the teacher I mentioned at and infections from animals, or from contact with on school leadership and management. For more
A narrow focus allows the observer to work more the start of this article before I gate-crashed her lesson. animal faeces. information, go to www.usethekey.org.uk
effectively too. They can make detailed and useful I would have said: “I hope you don’t mind if I watch
SecEd • November 12 2009 13
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