Courageous leadership for professional accountability: Lesson observation with grades

Bridgwater College Academy transformed its approach to the evaluation of teaching, moving away from grading individual lessons to nurturing teacher development. Teachers now record their lessons for self-review, helping inform their decisions about the priorities of their Personal Development Plans. This method fosters collaborative learning and professional growth. The results? Improved teaching quality, reduced in-school variation, and a more empowered, accountable staff. The academy’s journey, marked by rising student achievement and positive Ofsted observations, highlights the effectiveness of focusing on holistic teacher development over traditional grading of lessons method.