Realising our potential: Understanding and developing capacity for lastingimprovement

In an increasingly complex world, continuous and broad-based learning is es sential to keep up with the rapid pace of change. Drawing on research and d evelopment work in school effectiveness and school improvement, it is argue d in this article that internal capacity is vital in developing and sustain ing the teacher and organisational learning necessary to promote and enhanc e student learning. Influences on internal capacity at the individual teach er, school context and external context levels are discussed, and principle s offered for building capacity from within and outside schools. Difference s between schools in their internal capacity are highlighted and questions posed for further research and development work to understand better how th e influences interact in different types of schools.