Imagine a nine-year-old child sitting in a classroom, in almost any country in the world.

How well she does at school – how well she is taught – matters.

Effective teaching not only affects what she achieves at school (Slater et al., 2012), it also has far-reaching consequences.

It increases her chances of attending a high-ranking university and saving for retirement – and decreases her chances of teenage pregnancy (Chetty et al., 2011). So, what can policymakers, school leaders and citizens do to increase her chances of having a teacher that is both confident and effective? This article explains how instructional coaching, as one form of effective professional development, has been implemented in Estonia.

Download the pdf article below.

The project ‘Improving the system of professional development of teachers and school leaders in Estonia’ was funded by the European Union via the Structural Reform Support Programme and implemented by the British Council in co-operation with the European Commission.