Quality Teaching Rounds as a professional development intervention for enhancing the quality of teaching: rationale and study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

Professional development is widely considered important for enhancing the quality of teaching for enhanced student learning. Yet few studies have demonstrated such impacts. This protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 24 schools tests a structured collaborative approach to professional development called Quality Teaching Rounds. The study seeks to establish: which features of Quality Teaching Rounds are fundamental to its effectiveness; how, why, and for whom participation in Quality Teaching Rounds supports improvement in teaching practice; and, to what extent the Quality Teaching Rounds intervention can be implemented to build and sustain teacher capacity. The primary outcome measure, quality of teaching, will be analysed using linear mixed models and the quantitative modelling will be complemented with qualitative evidence.