• Flexible Route guidance
• Ways to complete probation
  • Probation process
    • Self-evaluation
    • Supporter Meetings
    • Observed Teaching Sessions
• Teaching service
• Finding support
• How to meet the SFR
• Recording your service
• Downloads

Observed Teaching Sessions

Leading on from your Supporter Meetings, feedback and evaluation on your teaching practice is achieved through Observed Teaching Sessions.

Being observed on a regular basis will help with your self-evaluation and therefore with the targets you set yourself and the CPD you undertake.

Information and evidence will be reviewed with your supporter, using the  form and following a process similar to the one below. 

Arranging sessions

If you are fortunate enough to undertake most of your teaching in one school, you should try to arrange for your in-school supporter or someone in the school to carry out an Observed Teaching Session once every three weeks.

If you do not have a dedicated in-school supporter – for example, if your teaching is undertaken in several schools – you should ensure that the headteacher is aware that you have a probationary period to complete. You should ask the headteacher or head of department if your teaching can be observed, and they should be able to help you make the necessary arrangements

If you experience difficulties getting your teaching observed you should contact your local authority probation manager, who will be able to help you and may be able to carry out the observation with you.

Before the Observed Teaching Session

Prior to the observation, in collaboration with your supporter, department head or headteacher, you should identify:

• the focus of the observation, usually arising from your 
• an overview of the class, including:
  • details about the lesson / element of the   being observed
  • how the work fits into short / long-term plans
  • an identification of learning outcomes
  • how the session would be expected to unfold
  • discussion of possible issues to be prepared for
  • whether the observer will take an active part in the class / take notes

During the Observed Teaching Session

There are a variety of ways to carry out observations. Ideally, the observer would integrate into the lesson in a team-teaching type role, working alongside you and experiencing first-hand how you have delivered the lesson.

After the Observed Teaching Session

A post-observation meeting should be arranged so that you can receive feedback on the observed session. It is best if this meeting takes place a few days after the session to allow you and the observer a period of reflection.

The meeting would include, from the observer's perspective, a detailed explanation of how the lesson progressed and met the set objectives. You should also have the opportunity to describe the session from your perspective and to explain why you worked in a certain way.

The meeting would also include the identification of development needs arising and / or the recognition that a new area of development should be focused on. Your supporter will be a good source of advice.

Recording the feedback

It is important you record feedback on the . Information and evidence from these will form part of your Interim Report and Final Report.