INSET: Improving Pupil Outcomes- strategies for Raising Standards

Equip, Inspire, and Elevate: Practical Tools to Improve Pupil Progress and for Raising standards

Improving pupil outcomes is at the heart of every school’s work, yet raising standards in a sustainable way requires more than new initiatives or heightened expectations. It depends on consistent, high‑quality teaching, effective classroom practice and a shared understanding across the staff team of what makes the greatest difference to learning.

This whole‑staff INSET focuses on evidence‑informed strategies that support schools to improve pupil outcomes by strengthening everyday teaching and learning. Drawing on robust research and extensive school leadership experience, the session explores the core features of effective teaching and how these translate into classroom practice, behaviour, assessment and professional culture.

Designed for delivery to all staff together, the session helps establish a common professional language and a clear, practical focus on what works – supporting improvement that is coherent, inclusive and sustained over time.

Why book this INSET for your whole staff?

• Keeps the focus firmly on pupil outcomes
  The session links classroom practice directly to learning and progress, helping staff understand how small improvements in teaching quality can have a significant impact on outcomes.
• Builds consistency across classrooms and phases
  By revisiting the evidence around effective teaching, the INSET supports a more consistent approach across the school, reducing variability and strengthening collective practice.
• Grounded in research and real‑world experience
  Staff engage with well‑established evidence about what raises standards, translated into practical strategies that reflect the realities of busy classrooms.
• Practical approaches staff can use immediately
  Strategies shared are realistic, low‑burden and directly applicable, supporting adaptive teaching, effective feedback and positive classroom climates without increasing workload.
• Supports whole‑school improvement priorities
  School leaders can use this INSET to reinforce key messages around teaching, learning and behaviour, aligning CPD, coaching and development work under a shared framework.

This makes the session particularly valuable as a foundation for improvement planning or as a reset point at key moments in the academic year.

Who is this INSET for?

This INSET is designed as a whole‑staff training session and is appropriate for:

• All teaching staff, from early career teachers to experienced practitioners
• Teaching assistants and classroom‑based support staff who play a role in learning and progress
• Middle and senior leaders responsible for improving teaching quality and pupil outcomes
• Schools seeking greater clarity, coherence and consistency in their approach to raising standards

The session works best when attended by all staff together, ensuring shared understanding, shared language and collective responsibility for improving pupil outcomes across the school.

INSET Outline

Part 1: Improving Pupil Outcomes – what really makes the difference?

• Clarifying what we mean by pupil outcomes beyond test scores
• Revisiting the strongest evidence on what improves learning over time
• Why teaching quality remains the most powerful lever for raising standards
• Common myths and distractions that dilute impact – and what to focus on instead

Whole‑staff focus: developing a shared understanding of what matters most for learning.

Part 2: Effective Teaching in Practice – raising standards in everyday classrooms

• The core features of effective teaching that support pupil progress
• Strong instruction and subject knowledge: why clarity beats complexity
• Using cognitive science principles (retrieval, spacing, scaffolding) in realistic ways
• Making learning stick without increasing workload

Whole‑staff focus: consistency in teaching approaches across classrooms and phases.

Part 3: Classroom climate, behaviour and belonging

• How behaviour, routines and relationships underpin pupil outcomes
• Creating calm, purposeful classrooms that allow learning to flourish
• The role of consistency in expectations and responses
• Supporting inclusion and engagement while maintaining high standards

Whole‑staff focus: aligning classroom practice with school behaviour expectations.

Part 4: Assessment, feedback and adaptive teaching

• Using assessment to check understanding and inform next steps
• Feedback that genuinely improves learning without creating unsustainable workload
• Adapting teaching to meet pupils’ needs while maintaining pace and ambition
• Using evidence from the classroom to refine practice collectively

Whole‑staff focus: using assessment as a tool for learning, not compliance.

Part 5: Sustaining improvement and raising standards together

• Why whole‑school consistency matters more than individual excellence
• Embedding shared language and expectations around teaching and learning
• Supporting ongoing professional development through collaboration and reflection
• Avoiding initiative overload while maintaining momentum

Whole‑staff focus: collective responsibility for improving pupil outcomes.

Summary and Key Takeaways for Raising Standards

• The key principles that underpin improved pupil outcomes
• Practical strategies staff can apply immediately
• How leaders can use this framework to support continued improvement

enquiries@jmcinset.com