This resource was originally published on 4 August 2025.

Summary

The What Works Best 2025 – Evidence guide for excellent schools outlines 8 quality teaching practices that are known to support school improvement and enhance student learning outcomes. The themes are not an exhaustive list of effective practices but are a useful framework for teachers and school leaders to consider when planning teaching, learning and leading.

The 8 themes identified as likely to make the biggest difference to our students are:

1. High expectations

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

2. Explicit teaching

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.

3. Effective feedback

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.

4. Using data to inform 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.

5. Assessment

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.

6. Classroom management

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

7. Wellbeing

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.

8. Collaboration

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

How to use this resource

Purpose of resource

The What Works Best 2025 – Evidence guide for excellent schools outlines 8 quality teaching practices that are known to support school improvement and enhance student learning outcomes.

The What Works Best 2025 resources strongly support Our Plan for NSW Public Education. The content is particularly relevant to the following focus areas:

• advance equitable outcomes, opportunities and experiences
• strengthen trust and respect for the teaching profession and school support staff
• deliver outstanding leadership, teaching and learning
• strengthen student wellbeing and development.

When and how to use

The resource provides an overview of the evidence base for 8 high quality teaching practices and is accompanied by the What Works Best 2025 practical guides and What Works Best 2025 illustrations of practice. School leaders and teachers can read, reflect on, discuss and implement themes and strategies highlighted in the paper as part of school-developed High Impact Professional Learning (HIPL).

The appropriate time to use this resource may differ for each school, leader and teacher.

School leaders can:

• use the evidence guide for whole-school professional development and/or stage or grade team meetings
• encourage teachers to share key findings during professional development
• reflect on strategies, policies or practices currently in place to support school improvement and lift student learning outcomes
• support staff to find connections between What Works Best and the School Excellence Framework
• display the What Works Best 2025 – Evidence guide for excellent schools overview (657KB).

Teachers can:

• read the evidence guide and reflect on current practice
• access the What Works Best 2025 practical guides and the What Works Best 2025 illustrations of practice for examples of implementation
• consider which practices could be implemented in the classroom to lift student achievement, and discuss their thoughts with colleagues
• reflect on the impact of implementation.

Related resources

• The What Works Best 2025 practical guides provide strategies to support teachers and school leaders to implement the 8 themes in their classrooms and schools.
• Access the What Works Best 2025 illustrations of practice for examples of how schools across NSW have implemented the themes.
• Learn more about explicit teaching for all the What Works Best themes.
• The School Excellence Framework supports school leaders take a planned and whole-school approach to improvement. The 8 themes closely align with the School Excellence Framework.
• Explicit teaching drives student motivation, engagement, and achievement in NSW public schools – a What Works Best research update.

Contact

Email feedback about this resource to info.cese@det.nsw.edu.au using the subject line ‘Re: What Works Best 2025 Evidence guide for excellent schools’. You can also subscribe to the CESE newsletter and connect with us on Viva Engage (DoE staff only).

Alignment to system priorities and/or needs: Our Plan for NSW Public Education and our overarching commitment to creating an equitable and outstanding education system where every student learns, grows and belongs.

Reviewed by: Aboriginal Education and Communities; Curriculum; Inclusion and Wellbeing; Public Schools; Regional, Rural, Remote and Unique Settings; School Excellence; School Leadership Institute; School Workforce; Student Wellbeing Support; Teaching and Learning Support (under the 2025 departmental structure).

Created/last updated: Originally published 4 August 2025.

To be reviewed: CESE publications are prepared through a rigorous process. Resources are reviewed periodically as part of an ongoing evaluation plan.