This paper evaluates a widely used, low stakes, teacher peer-to-peer observation and feedback program under Randomized Control Trial (RCT) conditions. Half of 181 volunteer primary schools in England were randomly selected to participate in a two-year program in which three fourth and fifth grade teachers observed each other. We find that two cohorts of students taught by treated teachers perform no better on externally graded national tests compared to business as usual. However this masks large heterogeneity; in small schools, where there is only one class per grade, we find negative impacts of the training (0.1-0.18SD), whereas we find positive impacts in larger schools (0.06-0.17SD). We outline and explore potential mechanisms for this and conclude that centralised one-size-fits-all teacher training interventions may be harmful. ? 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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1 June 2021

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Economics of Education Review 822021

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DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102091

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775721000145

This Journal article is published under the centre's Education programme.