The most important factor in improving student outcomes is the quality of classroom teaching. It is what teachers know and do that makes the difference in improving student learning. Teachers also need the support of their school leader to help them become highly effective in their teaching practice.
To support teachers and leaders, we have developed the Cambridge School Leader and Teacher standards. These provide guidance to schools and define what we believe to be key characteristics and practices of effective teaching. They focus on supporting all aspects of a leader’s or teacher’s professional learning and development, recognising the demands and complexity of their role.
We have developed the Standards using the latest international research into effective teaching and school leadership. We also took into account a wide range of national practices, as well as input from education experts around the world.
This document below explains how and why we developed the Standards, and gives insights into all the resources we used to develop them.
Download the Standards factsheet
Cambridge Teacher Standards
Cambridge Teacher Standards are consistent with the latest research on effective teaching and provide a benchmark for Cambridge teachers to use in the following ways:
- To evaluate current teaching practice
- To help determine and guide areas for professional development
- To understand the teaching requirements for Cambridge programmes in order to achieve the desired student outcomes
Download the Cambridge Teacher Standards
Cambridge School Leader Standards
Cambridge School Leader Standards have been developed alongside the Cambridge Teacher Standards and with the Cambridge Standards for Schools which support schools with their self-evaluation processes. Cambridge School Leader Standards can be used by school leaders in the following ways:
- To evaluate current leadership practice
- To help determine and guide areas for professional development
- To review and identify the development needs of your senior team
- To help illustrate a leadership framework and expectations to school boards, governing bodies and parent communities.
Download the School Leader Standards
More information
For more information please read our frequently asked questions.
Your feedback
As we launch these standards we would like to hear from Cambridge schools who are interested in exploring their use in different contexts. If you are interested please complete the form below.