5b – Staff engage with external knowledge

Meaning – all staff engage with external expertise, which is crucial to improving pupil outcomes. Whilst there may be a large amount of expertise within a school or college, it is also important that outside expertise is utilised. This can be in the form of ongoing support, events, courses, books, research etc.

What might this look like in practice?

Many staff engage with colleagues in other organisations through social media and local networks. Through these networks, a large amount of research and expertise is shared within the school. Through informal discussion and formal meetings, all staff regularly access research summaries and evidence-informed pedagogical approaches.

The school also has an ongoing relationship with a local HEI, which supports a number of action research projects within the school. The HEI provides access to further research and expertise both in terms of pedagogical strategies and also in terms of facilitating effective professional learning.