Example Form Setups

Our Ofsted-based framework is just one of many ways you can use Lessons Learned to conduct a lesson observation. See the case studies and gallery below to find out how our creative schools have been using the custom form builder to set up forms tailored to their own needs.

Case Study 1: St Benedict’s

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School has used our standard, Ofsted-based framework that comes free with the online version of Lessons Learned, but they’ve amended the layout to better suit their own needs. Rather than having individual sections on the form that cover Engagement and Enthusiasm, Resources and Time and so on, they’ve combined these sections to create a more concise form where staff only need to use the descriptors if they want to.

Click through the presentation below for a more detailed look at how St Benedict’s uses Lessons Learned to conduct their lesson observations.

The comments box takes priority in a single section on the form called 'Lesson Overview'. The descriptors, rather than being separated out into their own individual sections on the form, are all placed within this section but are hidden from view in tabs until they are needed.

Clicking through the tabs shows descriptors associated with specific areas of focus, which are then split into what creates a high impact, a good impact and then a low impact on teaching and learning.

Clicking on the descriptors allows the observer to highlight the evidence that is relevant to this particular session.

At the bottom of the form, the observer is able to assign an overall judgement based on the high/good/low impact terminology uses throughout the rest of the form. Any descriptors selected are summarised below that.

On the school dashboard screen, SLT get an overview of how many drop-ins have been given overall judgements of high impact, good impact or low impact.

Case Study 2: Cyril Jackson

Cyril Jackson Primary School have created their own framework with 20 key areas of focus. Each area has it’s own section on the form with a comment box, some brief evidence for what ‘Developing’, ‘Securing’ and ‘Mastering’ looks like and a dropdown for marking that focus area as either a strength or development point.

This comprehensive framework results in a very informative graph that gives SLT an overview of the strongest and weakest areas in the school. Individual staff can also see graphs summarising their own strengths and development points.

Cyril Jackson have built their own form framework using the extensive options available in the administration section of the system.

Each section has an area for comments, the option to view associated descriptors and a drop down for assigning a 'grade' or judgement. The 'grade' label can be renamed within the system should you wish to change it.

Upon clicking on one of the descriptor buttons, the observer is presented with descriptors that show what developing, securing and mastering look like.

In this instance, Cyril Jackson are using the drop down to mark whether this particular focus area is a development point or strength.

In the development point section at the bottom of the form, they can go into more detail about any identified development points. Development points added to this table will collate with development points from other forms on the individual, subject/year group and school dashboards.

As a result of marking areas as a strength or development point, Cyril Jackson get an informative graph on their school dashboard that instantly informs them where staff strengths and weaknesses lie.

Other Examples

Click through the images below to see how other schools are making use of our customisable system.