Teachers provide challenging and ambitious learning activities that help students meet their full potential through consistent effort and improvement.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – High expectations (PDF 3068 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – High expectations (PDF 595 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – High expectations at Coonamble Public School (PDF 4136 KB)
• Supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to flourish – what works best in practice
• Growth goal setting – what works best in practice
• Everyday resilience – what works best in practice
• Transition to high school – what works best in practice

Teachers clearly explain, model and demonstrate new concepts, while providing timely, targeted feedback. Students are given adequate time to ask questions, act on feedback, and apply their knowledge through practice.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Explicit teaching (PDF 3160 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Explicit teaching (PDF 1863 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Explicit teaching at Doonside Technology High School (PDF 2520 KB)
• Effective teaching practice at Balgowlah Boys Campus
• Supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to flourish – what works best in practice
• Growth goal setting – what works best in practice
• Transition to high school – what works best in practice

Teachers provide students with relevant, constructive and specific information about their performance on a task, against learning outcomes from the syllabus or clearly defined success criteria.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Effective feedback (PDF 3111 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Effective feedback (PDF 686 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Effective feedback at Cabramatta High School (PDF 3330 KB)
• Effective teaching practice at Balgowlah Boys Campus
• Supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to flourish – what works best in practice
• Growth goal setting – what works best in practice
• Everyday resilience – what works best in practice
• Transition to high school – what works best in practice

Teachers and school leaders use data to monitor and analyse student learning and wellbeing, to inform decision-making to improve student and school outcomes.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Using data to inform practice (PDF 3015 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Using data to inform practice (coming soon)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Using data to inform practice at Lucas Gardens School (coming soon)

Teachers regularly monitor student progress using a mix of assessment approaches, to inform their next steps in teaching, determine the effectiveness of teaching strategies and provide evidence of student understanding.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Assessment (PDF 2728 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Assessment (coming soon)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Assessment at Warrimoo Public School (coming soon)
• Growth goal setting – what works best in practice

Teachers create the conditions for learning by minimising disruptions, maximising instruction time and encouraging students to engage in learning.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Classroom management (PDF 2967 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Classroom management (coming soon)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Classroom management at Plumpton High School (coming soon)
• Supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to flourish – what works best in practice
• Everyday resilience – what works best in practice
• Transition to high school – what works best in practice

Teachers and school leaders facilitate student wellbeing through a sense of belonging, an ongoing commitment to cultural inclusivity, promoting positive relationships and supporting student resilience.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Wellbeing (PDF 3367 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Wellbeing (coming soon)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Wellbeing at Temora Public School (coming soon)
• Everyday resilience – what works best in practice
• Supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to flourish – what works best in practice
• What works best to increase students' sense of belonging
• Transition to high school – what works best in practice

Teachers and school leaders work together to share evidence-informed practices, knowledge and problem-solving to achieve agreed learning goals.

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• What Works Best 2025 evidence guide – Collaboration (PDF 3212 KB)
• What Works Best 2025 practical guide – Collaboration (coming soon)
• What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice – Collaboration at Ashford Central School (coming soon)
• Effective teaching practice at Balgowlah Boys Campus

• What Works Best – SCOUT reports (access to historical TTFM data 2024 and older) (DoE staff only).
• Understanding student survey results – how to access and understand NSW Public Schools Student Survey results (DoE staff only).