Our Impact

Indicators of impact from some of the 250+ schools, pre-schools and colleges we are currently working with in-depth

We partner with schools, pre-schools and colleges for the long-term so that together, we significantly improve learning, teaching and leadership.

As our founder, James Nottingham said in this podcast:

Keynotes inspire and challenge, leading to a renewed sense of passion and focus. However, it is the longer-term processes that evolve into the most important and powerful outcomes. That is why as a company, we invest in the long-term. Our Learning Pit Process guides, encourages, demonstrates and coaches. We walk alongside staff for 2-3 years, ensuring that improvements are embedded and a ā€˜new normal’ is created.

As our founder, James Nottingham said in this podcast:

Keynotes inspire and challenge, leading to a renewed sense of passion and focus. However, it is the longer-term processes that evolve into the most important and powerful outcomes. That is why as a company, we invest in the long-term. Our Challenging Learning Process guides, encourages, demonstrates and coaches. We walk alongside staff for 2-3 years, ensuring that improvements are embedded and a ā€˜new normal’ is created.

As our founder, James Nottingham said in this podcast:

Keynotes inspire and challenge, leading to a renewed sense of passion and focus. However, it is the longer-term processes that evolve into the most important and powerful outcomes. That is why as a company, we invest in the long-term. Our Challenging Learning Process guides, encourages, demonstrates and coaches. We walk alongside staff for 2-3 years, ensuring that improvements are embedded and a ā€˜new normal’ is created.

Indicators of Impact

We are delighted to have played our part in helping 450+ schools, pre-schools and colleges in 11 countries improve the outcomes of feedback, dialogue and questioning; lift attainment grades, sometimes to the best levels seen in a decade; boost professional engagement such that the number of applicants per vacancy have multiplied many times over; increase student attendance and decrease staff illness; and embed a healthier attitude towards challenge, progress, curiosity and collective efficacy.

Indicators of Impact

We are delighted to have played our part in helping 450+ schools, pre-schools and colleges in 11 countries improve the outcomes of feedback, dialogue and questioning; lift attainment grades, sometimes to the best levels seen in a decade; boost professional engagement such that the number of applicants per vacancy have multiplied many times over; increase student attendance and decrease staff illness; and embed a healthier attitude towards challenge, progress, curiosity and collective efficacy.

Indicators of Impact

We are delighted to have played our part in helping 450+ schools, pre-schools and colleges in 11 countries improve the outcomes of feedback, dialogue and questioning; lift attainment grades, sometimes to the best levels seen in a decade; boost professional engagement such that the number of applicants per vacancy have multiplied many times over; increase student attendance and decrease staff illness; and embed a healthier attitude towards challenge, progress, curiosity and collective efficacy.

Learning Pit Process (LPP) at Highweek Primary School, England

  • In every classroom, all students are now actively encouraged to examine their mistakes and talk about them in learning situations, compared with 55% who were encouraged to do this in 2016
  • All students who were asked said they welcomed and enjoyed challenge and saw it as an exciting and positive opportunity for learning
  • The Learning Pit is used across the school as a metaphor to embrace and work through challenges. This has created a school-wide shared language for describing the process and the dispositions needed for dealing with challenge
  • At the start, 50% of students believed that abilities are grown and developed. A year later, this had increased to 80%. Students were also able to give reasons why they believed this

Three-year project with 52 schools in Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Teachers and leaders are more systematically collecting and using student data to inform their decision-making around next steps for learning
  • Students’ ability to express their learning goals has increased
  • Students are now aware that learning is a process and have learned to use different strategies to reach their goals
  • Staff are increasingly discussing pedagogical methods with their colleagues to improve learning

On-going LPP at Brechin High School, Scotland

  • Students have recognised a change in the learning environment, being given opportunities to collaborate with each other more, and now expect to be challenged
  • Education Scotland reported that an observed 26 of 27 lessons featured active learning (Feb 2018)
  • 79% of students asked, could explain what they were learning, and referred to clear, shared learning intentions
  • Staff have embraced teaching strategies that encourage reflection and thinking skills: ā€œI am not scared of silence, I will ask a question and deliberately wait, to give them a chance to think” (teacher, May 2018)

On-going LPP with 17 schools, pre-schools & gymnasieskolor in MƶnsterƄs, Sweden

  • Staff are more open and willing to share practice and learn from each other. A shared language of learning is developing across the whole municipality
  • Challenge is seen as a positive element in 75% of the classrooms. The Learning Pit is seen in more than 50% of the classrooms/pre-schools visited, and when asked, kids refer to it as a metaphor for learning
  • In 66% of the lessons visited it can be seen that feedback has a positive impact on learning.
  • The amount of classroom dialogue has increased in more than 50% of the visited classrooms and exploratory talk is now developing

Three-year LPP at Araluen Public School, Victoria, Australia

  • 80% of staff now actively teach students how to learn. This is linked to their use of Learning Intentions and Success Criteria.
  • Mistakes are embraced as a learning opportunity across the school.
  • The Principal reports that, ā€œTeachers are passionate and keen to improve their practice and are therefore extremely positive about being coached, understanding that it is not about judgement but about improvement.ā€
  • The school’s performance was reviewed externally in May 2018: ā€œStudents in all classrooms articulated individual and class goals and reported that they enjoyed being challenged and improving from feedback.ā€

Stories of Impact

The following videos were made during a three-year project we ran with all schools and pre-schools in Skanderborg, Denmark.

Focusing on Growth & Progress with Challenging Learning

Developing the use of Learning Goals with Challenging Learning

Improving the Outcomes of Feedback with Challenging Learning

Developing a Growth Mindset with Challenging Learning

Focusing on Growth & Progress with Challenging Learning

Developing the use of Learning Goals with Challenging Learning

Improving the Outcomes of Feedback with Challenging Learning

Developing a Growth Mindset with Challenging Learning

Contact us to see how we could impact your School

Stronger Learning for Stronger Lives

Our Vision and Values

Stronger Learning for Stronger Lives