At Cedars Christian College, educational innovation is taking shape with support from the Quality Teaching (QT) Academy, in a way that’s transforming how teachers approach professional development and classroom practice.
Over the course of his career, Cedars Christian College Principal Mr Steve Walton has tried numerous methods to improve teaching standards, including lesson observations, walk throughs, coaching, and goal setting with varying measures of success. But nothing has been as successful as QT Academy’s Quality Teaching Rounds.
“The teachers regularly remind me that this is the best program they have been involved in regarding teacher development, and they are so grateful for the investment in them and their career,” he says.
“The fact that we have a waiting list of teachers who are volunteering to participate speaks for itself. We also have return participants who are now leading rounds themselves.” – Mr Steve Walton
Established by the University of Newcastle, the QT Academy provides training and support for a collaborative, evidence-backed approach to professional development where educators analyse, reflect on, and improve teaching practice across different subjects and grade levels.
Cedars Christian College, near Wollongong in New South Wales, started engaging with the QT Academy five years ago and now has more than 70 teachers involved in the QT program.
It has developed a strategic implementation plan and rolled-out Quality Teaching Rounds across the K-12 school. Over the past few years, it has broadened its focus to embed the Quality Teaching Model into its assessment and programming practice, making it a key feature of the school’s pedagogical approach.
Cedars Christian College is also participating in the University’s federal government-funded Strengthening Induction through Quality Teaching Rounds project. This is an initiative of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and aims to improve retention of early career teachers, as well as teaching and learning outcomes by having beginning teachers participate in Quality Teaching Rounds alongside more experienced colleagues.
The college’s Principal Mr Walton says the training he has participated in with the QT Academy “has been second to none”.
“When it comes to the science and art of teaching, the Quality Teaching Model clearly articulates the components of teaching and highlights the difference between good teaching and great teaching,” Mr Walton says.
He believes the process of Quality Teaching Rounds is what makes the program so successful.
“The de-personalised approach allows teachers to code the elements of a lesson and reflect together on what constitutes quality practice, without comment on the teacher themselves,” he says.
At Cedars Christian College, the greatest promoter of Quality Teaching Rounds has been the staff who participate.
“Word of mouth in the staff rooms and the encouragement of others to ‘have a go’ has been organic and not something that has needed to be driven from myself as Principal or the college’s executive staff,” Mr Walton says.
“To get any program up initially in a school it needs a champion and Mrs Kellyanne Guest, our Director of Secondary, has certainly been that champion at Cedars. She has led the way with training and participation, and has supported staff through the process.”
The school is now seeing the fruits of her labour.
“We really needed something to anchor to,” Mrs Guest says, describing the school’s motivation for adopting the QT Model.
Unlike traditional professional development, this approach provides a comprehensive lens for analysing the quality of teaching that transcends subject boundaries and experience levels.
The Quality Teaching Rounds process operates like medical teaching rounds, creating a unique professional learning environment.
“It’s not about the person, it’s about the practice,” she says.
Teachers spend full days observing lessons, meticulously coding the different elements of the Model, and engaging in collaborative discussions that focus on improving educational outcomes.
“When staff are teaching, marking and preparing for classes, they’re not getting a lot of time to be reflective,” Mrs Guest says.
Quality Teaching Rounds creates dedicated time for teachers to step back and critically examine their teaching practices. Participation is voluntary, yet demand is high.
And the benefits extend beyond individual classrooms: by normalising peer observations, teachers build stronger relationships and improve overall school culture, Mrs Guest says.
Cedars Christian College has also attracted interest from other educational institutions, with a delegation from Christian Schools Australia visiting to understand its approach.
Recently recognised as an inaugural partner school of the QT Academy, the college continues to demonstrate how structured, reflective teaching practices can transform educational experiences. Its commitment goes beyond mere professional development – it’s about creating a culture of continuous improvement and collaborative learning.
“It’s also about sharpening those tools and refining their practice,” Mrs Guest says, capturing the essence of their innovative approach to education.
Mrs Guest has previously presented at QT Academy’s annual Quality Teaching in Practice conferences. This year’s conference, QTiP25: The Power of Pedagogy, will take place at the University of Newcastle from 8 – 9 July.
For more information, visit https://qtacademy.edu.au/.
