The Institute of Teaching and Learning

Our Institute of Teaching and Learning invites reflective critical thinking about our educational approach as an independent school in the South East of the UK, as well as in terms of our status as an international school. In pursuit of best practice, our work is both inward-facing, seeking to develop policy that can be shown to work well for us, and at the same time we look outwards to connect with schools and higher education institutions both locally and overseas. 

Our work is spread over four main areas: Character Education; Wellbeing and Flourishing; Digital Learning and Learning to Learn. We invite you to explore our research and development pages and Innovate journal to find out more about our work. 

We are committed to reflecting meaningfully on everything that can and should define us as a world class educational institution. We welcome connections with schools, whether near or far, who are keen to be part of our ongoing work.

The Institute 

The last few years have witnessed growth in significance and reach for the Institute, which is set to continue.  In the next stage, to further develop our approach to professional development for our teachers, we envisage that the Institute will provide:

• Increased opportunities for our teachers to engage in research
• More and broader CPD opportunities for our teachers
• Research connections, bringing together like-minded schools both locally and overseas
• A chance for students to engage with research with both teachers and university departments

Our vision, ultimately, is for the institute to be known as a centre for excellence in teaching and learning and for the evaluation and implementation of research practices in independent, secondary and international education. 

Key Programmes 

Ideas Lab

We envisage all teaching staff engaging with existing research and evidence, and will continue to support a smaller group leading enquiry projects through our Ideas Lab. Some projects focus on reviewing the literature in an area of practice or policy, others are action research projects introducing and evaluating a new intervention in the classroom, whilst others involve working with universities on research of a more academic nature.  

We are providing increasing opportunities for students to become involved in projects as co-researchers, to develop their knowledge of topical research questions and their own research and enquiry skills.

Fellowship programme

We are committed to bringing together university researchers with ITL teachers to work on collaborative research projects focused on ITL themes. Such partnerships, and the appointment of ITL fellows, allows our teachers to be mentored by academic researchers to support the development of their research skills, whilst investigating an important area of enquiry for the school. Such partnerships are already in place through our flourishing project and leadership work.