Advice & Resources
What to Look For on a Learning Walk
(Without turning it into a secret Ofsted inspection)
(Without turning it into a secret Ofsted inspection)
The most effective learning walks start with this question:
"What are we actually trying to see?"
Without a clear focus, a learning walk quickly becomes a blur — just classrooms and whiteboards and walls.
So before you even open a door, decide:
You don't need a clipboard crammed with 47 indicators.
You need a clear lens — something like:
Focus the walk on a theme, not everything.
Choose one or two — and stick to them.
Great observers don't walk in with assumptions. They tune in to what's happening — and record what they see and hear, not what they think about it.
Use sentence starters to keep your notes neutral:
Avoid judgmental phrases like "good lesson", "weak activity", or "outstanding behaviour".
🎙 You're capturing patterns — not issuing grades.
Ultimately, you're there to understand the experience of the learner.
Ask yourself:
If those questions stay central, you won't go far wrong.
A learning walk isn't about catching out or ticking off. It's about noticing, reflecting, and improving — one honest insight at a time.
So walk with focus. Observe with humility. And write what you see, not what you expect.
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