To find out young people’s criteria for a ‘good teacher’

Aim

To find out young people’s criteria for a `good teacher’.

Evidence and reflection

Hold a discussion (with the whole class, or in small groups which can then report back to the whole class) on what makes a ‘good teacher’. Perhaps the discussion could be couched in terms of suggestions for a student on how to become a good teacher.

Discussions with pupils on such a topic must obviously be handled very carefully and only with the agreement of any teachers who are involved.

Follow-up

Such information can be interesting in two ways:

1. It reveals something of the young people’s expectations of what it is to be a good ‘teacher’.

2. It can contribute to reflection on our own effectiveness as teachers and in implementing our values, aims and commitments. It could also lead to a reconsideration of those values, aims and commitments.