Rethinking Appraisals: Lessons from the Educational Sector and Beyond
Appraisals, or performance reviews, are often seen as a key checkpoint between an employee and their line manager to assess progress, set goals, and, ideally, boost morale. But for many, these meetings can be a mixed bag—either something to look forward to or something to dread. In education, where appraisals impact not only individual careers but also student outcomes, it’s worth examining how to make these reviews as effective as possible. Here’s a closer look at some best practices for appraisals in education, along with insights from other industries to make the most of these reviews: 1. Frequency Matters A yearly appraisal, supplemented with a six-month check-in, is ideal. Regular reviews keep goals relevant and give teachers the feedback they need to grow and improve. Unfortunately, in practice, workload pressures often mean that appraisals fall by the wayside. Teachers who rely on feedback from their directors of studies (DoS) may miss out on that “ pat on the back ” they’ve ear