Quality Teaching Rounds
Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR) is a ground-breaking approach to teacher professional development, with demonstrated impact on quality of teaching, teacher morale and school culture. It empowers teachers to enrich student learning through a collaborative, teacher-driven framework that enables participants to analyse and improve their practice. The approach applies across all subjects and year levels, and builds the confidence and capacity of teachers at all career stages.
QTR workshops are designed and delivered by the QT Academy.
Our latest project is Supporting Induction through QTR. This project is funded by the Australian Government to support an additional 1,600 teachers across Australia participate in QTR as part of Action 18 of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. Interested schools can access free professional development for their early career and experienced teachers by completing an expression of interest form.
Strengthening Induction through QTR
Supporting early career teachers
Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools
Research Impact 2019-2023
The current program of research examining Quality Teaching Rounds, Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools (2019-2023), is unlike anything else in Australian educational research. It comprised a comprehensive suite of studies over five years, which included more than 2,000 from 450 schools across a variety of contexts and educational jurisdictions.
The evidence collected to date on the impact of QTR is compelling – demonstrating that QTR improves teaching quality, teacher morale, teacher efficacy, and school culture. Significantly, three studies have now produced robust evidence demonstrating that participation in QTR leads to statistically significant positive effects on student achievement:
- in two subjects (maths and reading)
- in two stages (Years 3-4 and Years 5-6)
- in two states (NSW and QLD)
- in two modes (face-to-face and fully online PD) and,
- in an independent trial conducted by the University of Queensland.
Check out a summary of the research impact of Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools.
Explore QTR academic publications and media
Find out more
Explore the QT Academy
What is QTR?
After taking part in a two-day workshop, teachers return to their schools and form professional learning communities (PLC) of four teachers to conduct a ‘set of rounds’. A ‘round’ typically occurs over a day, involving a professional reading discussion, a lesson observation coded through the lens of the Quality Teaching model, followed by deep analysis and discussion of the lesson. This process is repeated on separate days until each teacher in the PLC has taught an observed lesson.
The QTR process
Teachers and leaders talk about Quality Teaching Rounds
What teachers say about participating in Quality Teaching Rounds
Alarna is a beginning teacher at Thornton Public School who says that QTR has given her "a really clear direction about what quality looks like in the classroom." Similarly, Adrian, a beginning teacher at Hambledon Public School, said QTR made him "feel a lot more confident in myself and in the way I teach in the classroom."
Tamsin from Peregian Springs State School is among the first teachers in Queensland to participate in QTR after taking part in our 2021 randomised controlled trial. She said the QTR process led to a sense of affirmation in her capacity as a teacher. "It was quite reassuring - it was nice to have your colleagues say that was a really good lesson."
Principals at Cessnock High School, James Sheehan Catholic High School, Glenroi Heights Public School, Hambledon Public School and Thornton Public School have all taken a whole-of-school approach to implementing QTR.
Teachers at Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre have found QTR helps bring learning to life!
Flagship projects
- ARC Discovery “Investigating the efficacy, complexity and sustainability of Teacher change” (DP 180100285) (2018 – 2021)
- Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools (Paul Ramsay Foundation, 2018 – 2022)
- Project Launch booklet
Related Studies
- Improving teaching quality through peer observation and feedback: An investigation of the impact of Quality Teaching Rounds (NSW DEC 2014-2015)
- Investigating Quality Teaching Rounds to Support Teacher Professional Learning (ACT QTR) (ACT ETD, 2012)
- Effective Implementation of Pedagogical Reform (EIPR) (ARC Linkage/Parramatta CEO, 2009–2012)
- Systemic Implications of Pedagogy and Achievement in NSW Public Schools (SIPA) (ARC Linkage/NSW DET, 2004-2007)
General enquiries
Please contact the research team at the University of Newcastle by emailing QTR@newcastle.edu.au.
Social media
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.