Professional Learning and Teacher Agency

In this episode of the Evidence Based Education podcast we are joined by Dr Lisa-Maria Müller from the Chartered College of Teaching for a wide-ranging conversation about professional learning in education.

Together, we explore how schools and systems are rethinking the design of professional learning — moving beyond compliance-driven models towards approaches that prioritise agency, autonomy and meaningful professional growth.

We discussed:

• The purpose of professional learning beyond compliance

• Balancing structure and flexibility in professional learning design

• Teacher agency, autonomy and professional judgement

• Leadership decisions about when to direct and when to step back

• Different models of professional learning and their impact on practice

The episode sets the scene for a thoughtful examination of how professional learning can be both rigorous and empowering, and how leaders can create the conditions for teachers to engage in learning that genuinely improves practice.

It’s a reflective conversation for anyone interested in how professional learning is evolving, and what that means for teachers, leaders and the wider education system.