Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) is the peak body representing Queensland’s independent schooling sector. The organisation is committed to promoting, supporting and developing independent schools. ISQ provides programs and services that support schools to implement improvement strategies and evidence-based reforms to achieve excellent student outcomes.
ISQ’s Self-Improving Schools Program supports schools to assess their effectiveness against an improvement framework, based on the above diagram. It empowers schools to undertake self-directed change to improve school performance, student learning and teacher practice. Each school is allocated a consultant who works collaboratively with the school team to support identification of need, to determine evidence based strategies, to assist implementation, to review progress and to re-define focus areas.
The program’s content and processes are based on a Literature Review, conducted in 2012. This document was updated in 2017 to ensure awareness of and response to the most current research in the area of school improvement.
The approaches listed in Evidence for Teaching & Learning Toolkit have been matched to ISQ’s Self-Improving Schools Program to support schools in evidence-informed assessment of their effectiveness.
Approaches in the Toolkit that can support Teaching and learning for the Queensland’s independent schooling sector.
Aspiration interventions
Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Behaviour interventions
Moderate impact for low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Collaborative learning approaches
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Mastery learning
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Mentoring
Low impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Metacognition and self-regulation
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Peer tutoring
High impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Repeating a year
Negative impact for very high cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-3
Setting and streaming
No impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
0
Small group tuition
Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Social and emotional learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Collaborative learning approaches
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Homework
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Individualised instruction
Moderate impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Mastery learning
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Metacognition and self-regulation
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Oral language interventions
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Peer tutoring
High impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Phonics
High impact for very low cost based on very extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Reading comprehension strategies
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Small group tuition
Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Social and emotional learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Within-class achievement grouping
Low impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Aspiration interventions
Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Behaviour interventions
Moderate impact for low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Individualised instruction
Moderate impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Mentoring
Low impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Metacognition and self-regulation
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
One to one tuition
High impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Reducing class size
Low impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Small group tuition
Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Social and emotional learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Teaching Assistant Interventions
Moderate impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Homework
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Individualised instruction
Moderate impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Metacognition and self-regulation
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
One to one tuition
High impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Oral language interventions
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Small group tuition
Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Teaching Assistant Interventions
Moderate impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Within-class achievement grouping
Low impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Approaches in the Toolkit that can support leadership and management for the Queensland’s independent schooling sector.
Arts participation
Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Aspiration interventions
Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Outdoor adventure learning
Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Physical activity
Low impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+1
School uniform
Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Social and emotional learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Collaborative learning approaches
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Homework
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Mastery learning
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Metacognition and self-regulation
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Oral language interventions
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Peer tutoring
High impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Phonics
High impact for very low cost based on very extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Reading comprehension strategies
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Collaborative learning approaches
High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Extending school time
Moderate impact for moderate cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Feedback
Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+6
Performance pay
Low impact for low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+1
Reducing class size
Low impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Small group tuition
Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Summer schools
Moderate impact for moderate cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Teaching Assistant Interventions
Moderate impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Approaches in the Toolkit that can support the community for the Queensland’s independent schooling sector.
Arts participation
Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Mentoring
Low impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
One to one tuition
High impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Outdoor adventure learning
Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Arts participation
Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Outdoor adventure learning
Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Physical activity
Low impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+1
Arts participation
Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Mentoring
Low impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+2
Outdoor adventure learning
Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Parental engagement
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Arts participation
Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Outdoor adventure learning
Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
-
Performance pay
Low impact for low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+1
Social and emotional learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Teaching and Learning Toolkit
An accessible summary of the international evidence on teaching 5 – 16 year-olds.
Aligned evidence
Toolkit approaches aligned with school improvement frameworks.
Using the Toolkits
Guide to using our Teaching and Learning Toolkit and Early Childhood Education Toolkit.