Academic Focus: The work of Professor John Hattie

This week, we are looking at the work of Professor John Hattie, one of the most influential figures in modern education. His groundbreaking research, known as Visible Learning, is the result of over 15 years of work involving millions of students.

Hattie’s mission was simple: to find out what actually works best in schools. He looked at hundreds of "influences", from class size to homelearning, and ranked them by their "effect size."

The "Hinge Point": What Really Matters?

Hattie found that almost everything we do in a classroom has some positive effect. However, he identified a "Hinge Point" (an effect size of 0.40). This represents the average growth we expect to see in a student over one school year.

As a school, we focus on the influences that sit well above that 0.40 line. These are the "powerhouse" strategies that significantly accelerate a child’s progress. Three of the most important influences are:

1. Student Expectations (Effect Size 1.33): This is one of the highest-ranking influences. It’s the idea that a student's own belief about what they can achieve is a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a student sets high goals for themselves, they are far more likely to reach them.
2. Effective Feedback (Effect Size 0.70): Learning thrives when students know exactly where they are, where they are going, and—most importantly—what their next step is.
3. Teacher-Student Relationships (Effect Size 0.52): A foundation of trust and warmth in the classroom allows students to feel safe enough to make mistakes, which is where the best learning happens.

How You Can Support at Home

Hattie’s research shows that parental involvement is most effective when it focuses on the "language of learning" rather than just the completion of tasks. Here is how you can use these insights at home this week:

• Focus on the "Next Step": When your child shows you their work, try shifting the conversation from "That’s great" to "What is the one thing you’re working on improving next?" This mirrors the high-impact feedback they receive in school.
• Model High Expectations: Encourage your child to believe they can master difficult concepts. If they say "I can’t do this," remind them of the power of "yet." Hattie’s research suggests that our belief in their potential is a massive driver of their success.
• Talk About the Process, Not Just the Result: Ask questions like, "What was the most challenging thing you learned today?" or "How did you solve that problem when you got stuck?" This makes the process of learning visible and valued.
• Create a Positive Learning Environment: While helping with homelearning has a modest impact, creating a home environment where learning is discussed with curiosity and enthusiasm has a much higher effect size on long-term achievement.

By making learning visible, talking about it, setting goals for it, and celebrating the struggle of it, we work together to ensure every child exceeds even their own expectations.

If you are interested in learning more about Visible Learning please see here.