Get to know your students better to improve outcomes

As a teacher, your job is to ensure your students know and understand the curriculum, so that they (and you) can reach outcomes. But teaching is so much more complex than this, because you are teaching people – faulty, hurting, growing, complex people. So a significant part of teaching is knowing and understanding your pupils. In 2019, the EEF published guidance for improving behaviour in schools, with the first recommendation covering this key topic. In this article, chemistry teacher and assistant headteacher at Notre Dame High School in Norwich, Niki Kaiser, delves into this catalytic aspect of teaching, sharing how you can apply Recommendation 1 to improve your own teaching practice.