I work in a school where we don’t have to write formal lesson plans, and staff are treated as trusted professionals. We have always written lesson observations for observed lessons, and I’ve filled in many lesson plans at other schools while doing outreach there, but planning in my own school has been left to the discretion of the individual. I’ve also been into other schools that are in an Ofsted category and the completion of written lesson plans is usually mandatory for those in this position (with noble intentions). That’s not to say we don’t have detailed planning documents, but teachers are left to decide the format and content for themselves.
I was skimming through a document today from the DFE entitled “Reducing bureaucracy for schools – myths and facts” and it’s worth a read if you haven’t come across it.
Myth: A written lesson plan must be produced for every lesson.
Fact. There is no statutory obligation to produce a written lesson plan for every lesson. Ofsted inspectors do not routinely scrutinise teachers’ individual plans, although they will look at them when they are offered by teachers. Inspectors focus on the quality of the school’s planning process and link that to teaching in classrooms. Where the quality of teaching is weak, it is important that schools can provide documentary evidence to show that proper planning to address this is in place.
With more schools buying in commercial resources it seems to me more important than ever to show that the bought-in scheme has been adapted and personalised for the groups it is to be used for, but it may be that writing of individual lesson plans is not the best way to do this.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on lesson plans. Do you write detailed individual lesson plans by choice? Are you instructed to write them by your department? If you don’t write detailed lesson plans what form does your planning take? Have you come across a really good way of planning?
