Walk This Way – A Leader’s Guide to Learning Walks

Great school leadership starts with seeing learning where it happens. Walk This Way is a practical and engaging training series designed for school leaders who want to sharpen their understanding of teaching and learning through purposeful learning walks.

Across three focused sessions, leaders will explore a range of approaches to learning walks — from gathering meaningful evidence and identifying strengths, to asking powerful questions and translating observations into action that improves outcomes for pupils.

Drawing on the same evidence-informed principles that underpin focussed learning walks within the renewed Ofsted inspection framework, this series will help leaders develop a more confident, structured and purposeful approach to evaluating the quality of education. At the same time, the programme emphasises that learning walks are far more than 'for Ofsted' — when used well, they are highly impactful quality assurance and school improvement tools in their own right, supporting professional dialogue, strengthening leadership visibility and driving sustained improvement over time.

This is more than simply visiting classrooms; it’s about developing a shared language of improvement, building leadership confidence, and creating a culture where leadership presence helps move achievement forward.

Whether you are new to learning walks or looking to make them more strategic and impactful, this series will equip you with the tools, confidence and insight to lead with clarity, observe with purpose and drive school achievement — one step at a time.

Monday 14th September, 4-5.30pm

Session 1: Using Leadership Walks to articulate impact

Monday 21st September, 4-5.30pm

Session 2: Using Curriculum and Strong Foundations Walks to drive impact

Monday 5th October; 4-5.30pm

Session 3: Using Inclusions Walks and Case Sampling to remove barriers to learning

TBC

Phil Abbott

Phil Abbott is an Education Consultant with more than 25 years of experience working in education, including 13 years of successful headship in the Primary sector.

Throughout his career, Phil has worked in a range of settings, including in areas of significant deprivation. His vast experience and personable character mean he has lots to bring to leaders seeking to gain insight, ideas and support in developing their own schools. Phil’s key approach is to help leaders to take complex challenges and identify clear, simple and manageable solutions. This can be achieved through a number of services, including advisory work within schools, quality assurance activities, Pupil Premium and Sports Funding reviews, headteacher appraisal, curriculum design and a vast range of bespoke training, both in person and online. His unique selling point is the diversity of services he can offer. Training and support can be tailored to the exact needs of the client.

Phil has been recognised at 10 Downing Street for his work in the sector, being named a Community Education Champion in 2024. In his ‘spare’ time, Phil also chairs the Midlands Junior Rugby League Steering Group and runs the Bassetlaw Bulldogs Rugby League Club in Nottinghamshire. He is an active sportsman and musician and naturally has a keen interest and knowledge of the music and PE curriculum.