As we return from our summer holidays to begin the new school years, teachers might ask a crucial question: “What is the learning journey I want to take my students on this year?”

To answer this question they will:

• identify the big learning goals and outcomes
• identify milestones
• find out where their students are currently at as learners
• determine how they will move each student from where they currently are to where they need to be.

Principals should ask themselves a similar questions. I will concentrate on one namely: “What learning journey do I want to take the teachers at our school on this year?”. (Why focus on this question? – Teachers have a big effect on their students’ learning (Hattie). )

To answer this question each principal will need to:

• identify the big learning goals and outcomes
• identify milestones
• find out where their teachers are currently at

It could be argued that the most important work of a school principal is to create learning opportunities that allow each teacher to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable each of them to become the teacher they need to be to meet the learning needs of each student in their class/classes.

What is the learning journey your school will be on this year?