Teaching and learning policy: model and examples

Download our model policy 

Please note: you're not required to have a teaching and learning policy, and Ofsted doesn't expect you to have one. However, setting a policy is a good way to clarify expectations and help ensure consistency across your school or trust.

Our model:

• Takes account of relevant requirements, guidance and good practice
• Is approved by Forbes Solicitors
• Is easy to adapt to save you time
• Can be adapted and set at school or trust-level

It covers: 

• What good teaching and learning looks like
• Roles and responsibilities of staff, pupils, parents/carers and governors to help make this happen 
• How this ties into other policies you may have, such as curriculum, assessment, and marking and feedback policies

Model policy: teaching and learning

Examples: primary schools

Clavering Primary School in Essex has a teaching and learning policy that sets out teaching and learning principles including:

• The school's aims
• Planning
• Differentiation
• The roles and responsibilities of staff, pupils, parents/carers and the wider community
• Teaching and learning processes and styles

Glen Park Primary School in Plymouth has a teaching for learning policy that covers:

• Teaching and learning strategies
• Lesson structure
• The classroom environment
• Questioning techniques

Examples: secondary schools

Whitworth Community High School in Lancashire has teaching and learning principles. These include:

• Core values
• Whole-school principles
• Elements expected in all lessons
• Autonomy for teachers
• Home learning

Lavington School in Wiltshire has a teaching and learning policy (see under ‘Lavington policies’) with sections covering:

• Principles, including expectations of what staff and students 'will do' 
• Procedure, with sub-sections on planning and preparation, teaching, assessment and marking
• Monitoring and evaluation 
• Protocols for lesson observations, learning walks and work scrutiny
• Responsibilities for different aspects of teaching and learning at the school

Example: special school

Hope School and College in Wigan has a teaching and learning policy covering: 

• Curriculum aims
• Wider curriculum principles
• The use of planning documents
• Subject leadership
• Monitoring and evaluation