Summit

At Summit Education Trust, we believe that exceptional teaching is the most powerful lever for improving outcomes and transforming lives. The Summit Seven represents our shared understanding of what great teaching looks like across our schools, from early years to post-16. These principles are rooted in evidence, shaped by practice, and designed to be flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of our learners while providing a consistent foundation for excellence.

At the heart of the Summit Seven is culture - the invisible thread that binds our classrooms and communities together. A strong, positive culture creates the conditions in which the seven principles can flourish. It is through this culture of high expectations, inclusion, and belonging that we empower every child to thrive, every teacher to grow, and every school to succeed.

Wellbeing and support as a

newly qualified

teacher...

Culture is the collective atmosphere, attitudes, and relationships that make our schools places where teaching and learning can thrive. A therapeutic approach balances care for students and staff with high expectations, creating a space where all students feel safe, valued, challenged, and inspired to learn.

model

Modelling is a teaching strategy in which teachers explicitly demonstrate a skill, behaviour, or thought process for students to observe and replicate. The teacher breaks the task into clear, manageable steps and verbalises actions or decisions as they occur.

In practice, modelling involves:

• Demonstrating a process, strategy, or example in real time

• Making steps and decisions explicit through clear narration

• Showing both the process and the expected outcome

• Using worked examples (or non-examples), live demonstrations, or WAGOLLs

• Providing a clear reference point for students before independent or guided practice

retrieve

Retrieval Practice means actively recalling previously learned information from memory. Instead of just revisiting material, students reconstruct knowledge, which:

• Strengthens memory

• Improves long-term retention

• Encourages deeper thinking and engagement

Research in cognitive psychology shows Retrieval Practice is one of the most effective learning strategies.

It benefits students of all ages and subjects, making it a versatile, evidence-based approach.

adapt

In practice, modelling involves:

• Demonstrating a process, strategy, or example in real time

• Making steps and decisions explicit through clear narration

• Showing both the process and the expected outcome

• Using worked examples (or non-examples), live demonstrations, or WAGOLLs

• Providing a clear reference point for students before independent or guided practice

practise

Independent Practise is the stage where students apply new knowledge and skills on their own, without direct help. It usually comes after guided practise and aims to:

• Reinforce learning

• Build fluency

• Encourage independence

Based on Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, Independent Practise helps students:

• Consolidate learning

• Rely less on working memory

• Develop automaticity (skills become effortless), allowing for deeper thinking and problem-solving.

feedback

Feedback is a key part of effective teaching. It gives students information about their performance to help them, improve, reflect and make progress.

When delivered effectively, feedback can:

• Enhance learning outcomes

• Increase motivation

• Support a growth mindset

Not all feedback is helpful – some can slow or hinder progress. When feedback is process-focused, it empowers students to take ownership of their learning.