What is a learning walk?
A plain-English overview: purpose, principles, and what learning walks are (and aren’t).
Foundations
Overview
Tip: try “MAT”, “template”, “secondary”, or “feedback”.
Difference between a learning walk and a lesson observation
Avoid the pitfalls: clarify language and expectations so staff feel safe and supported.
Foundations
Culture
Who should do a learning walk?
Roles, responsibilities, and how to build trust across teams and phases.
People
Culture
How often should you do learning walks?
Cadence that supports improvement without creating a surveillance culture.
Planning
Rhythms
Why learning walks matter
From curriculum quality to teacher development—how walks power improvement.
Impact
Strategy
Learning walks and the curriculum
Connect what you see in classrooms to intent, implementation and impact.
Curriculum
Quality
Learning walks in Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)
Consistency, comparability and professional trust across schools.
MAT
Leadership
What to look for on a learning walk
High-leverage indicators that surface strengths and inform next steps.
Practice
Look-fors
Primary vs secondary: tailoring your approach
Same principles, different contexts—what changes by phase.
Phases
Implementation
Giving feedback after a learning walk
Professional, timely, and constructive—without grades or gotchas.
Feedback
Culture
Learning walk template (Excel)
Download an editable template and see examples that avoid tick-box culture.
Template
Download
Common mistakes to avoid
Learn the easy way: avoid pitfalls that damage trust and utility.
Pitfalls
Culture
Linking learning walks to professional development
Ensure insights from walks feed back into coaching and staff growth — not paperwork.
CPD
Improvement
This hub is part of our ongoing effort to make LearningWalks.com the authority on learning walks. New articles are added regularly—bookmark this page.
