Celebrating Growth: Plus One Learning Cycles in Merseyside Schools

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of hosting Plus One Learning Cycles celebration events at two great primary schools in Merseyside – Christ Church CE Primary School, in Bootle, and St Charles’ Catholic Primary School.

These events mark the end of a two-term cycle of professional learning, offering teachers a valuable platform to:

✅ Showcase their ‘Plus One’ improvements – Teachers share the small yet impactful changes they’ve implemented, why they chose them, and how these changes have enhanced their students’ learning. Evidence comes in many forms:
*Before-and-after examples of children’s work
*Attainment and progress data
*Photos of classroom resources in action
*Lesson video clips
*Feedback from observations and pupil voice
*Adaptations in lesson planning

✅ Learn from each other’s strategies – Research into teacher efficacy highlights the power of vicarious experiences—seeing colleagues succeed in a similar context builds confidence in adopting new approaches. These events spark rich discussions, with teachers actively exploring how they can integrate successful strategies into their own classrooms.

✅ Develop a shared teaching language – Teaching isn’t a solo endeavour—it’s a team effort. To maximize impact, schools need a common framework for planning, teaching, and reflection. Building this shared language strengthens collaboration and supports greater consistency across classrooms.

✅ Embrace a learner’s mindset – Teachers aren’t just educators; they’re lifelong learners – of pedagogy, children’s learning, and effective implementation. This requires resilience, adaptability, and continuous reflection to embed new approaches into everyday routines.

✅ Recognize their professional growth – Often, teachers underestimate their capacity for development amid the fast-paced school environment. These events highlight their progress, helping them move beyond any limiting beliefs and reinforcing their confidence as educators.

One of my favorite moments? The final reflection question: “What’s your next ‘Plus One’?” This forward-looking mindset is a testament to the power of impactful CPD – when professional learning is effective, teachers naturally crave more opportunities to grow.