If you’re wondering how to improve schools, the answer is simple: hire the best teachers and continuously improve the ones you have. These two rules shape everything that happens in a school. With strong recruitment and ongoing professional learning, school leaders can create an environment where both teachers and students thrive.
Rule One: Hire the Best Teachers
Recruitment is the foundation of school improvement. Without great teachers, students struggle to make progress. Finding and securing the best educators can be challenging, but skilled school leaders know how to identify and attract top talent.
When reviewing applications, principals should look beyond basic qualifications. While most teachers have strong instructional skills, their impact outside the classroom often reveals more about their potential. Effective interview strategies include:
- Asking how they design engaging lessons that drive student success.
- Exploring their approach to collaboration and professional learning.
- Understanding how they would contribute to the school’s vision beyond daily teaching.
Recruiting the best teachers also requires competing for top talent. School leaders should ask: What makes my school stand out? Why would a high-performing teacher choose to work here? Offering strong mentoring, career growth opportunities, and a supportive culture can help attract the best educators.
Rule Two: Improve the Teachers You Have
Hiring great teachers is only half the challenge. The next step in how to improve schools is ensuring continuous professional learning. Strong principals hold teachers accountable for getting better every day by focusing on evidence-based teaching strategies that improve student outcomes.
What Does Effective Professional Learning Look Like?
- Intentional: Designed to target specific areas for growth.
- Results-Driven: Measured by student progress and teaching impact.
- Personalised: Aligned to teacher needs and school priorities.
Schools that foster a growth mindset culture provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and feedback. When every teacher receives tailored professional development, student success follows.
Final Thoughts: The Two Rules for School Improvement
The key to how to improve schools lies in these two simple but powerful rules:
1️⃣ Hire the best teachers.
2️⃣ Continuously develop and support them.
School improvement isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about long-term investment in people. Strong leaders prioritise recruitment, professional learning, and accountability to ensure every student benefits from excellent teaching.
By following these two rules, your school can create a culture of excellence where both teachers and students achieve their full potential.
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