C2. Set High Floor, No Ceiling – Coach and Practice
This behaviour develops a leader’s ability to ensure every student and staff member meets minimum expectations while still having room to excel.
Behaviour focus
Supporting leaders to guarantee a secure baseline for all while providing challenge and stretch for those ready to go further.
Purpose
To ensure that excellence is both inclusive and aspirational, with every individual pushed to reach their potential.
| Action Steps | Key Questions | Practice |
| Define the floor and ceiling. | What does “good enough for everyone” look like, and how can excellence extend beyond that? | Ask the leader to write down the non-negotiables for their team, then describe one way individuals could go beyond them. |
| Check for consistency. | Are all students and staff meeting the floor? | Practise a coaching conversation with a colleague whose expectations have slipped. Practise using evidence and encouragement to restore the standard. |
| Embed visible stretch. | How will people see opportunities to go further? | Plan one way to showcase excellence this week, such as a “stretch task” board, exemplar work, or staff spotlight. |
| Review and refine. | What data or feedback tells you whether stretch and support are balanced? | Practise leading a team reflection using student or staff evidence to assess whether expectations are equitable and ambitious. |