Remember the saying, “Old habits die hard”? There’s an old habit in education that’s still stubbornly hanging on—that engagement comes from making lessons more entertaining or incentivising learners with grades and rewards.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: superficial tricks and bribes aren’t sustainable. They might briefly capture attention, but they don’t cultivate the genuine engagement that keeps students curious and motivated long after the bell rings.
I recall mentoring a teacher named Sarah, who was struggling to keep her Year 8 learners engaged. She was exhausted from constantly trying to invent new games and incentives to keep them interested. She confided in me that no matter how creative she got, the excitement always seemed to fade, and her students would eventually revert to disengagement.
We discussed shifting her focus from entertainment to building a Culture of Excellence in her classroom. Instead of relying on gimmicks, Sarah started setting clear expectations and involving her students in creating a shared vision for their learning. She emphasised growth, curiosity, and the importance of purpose. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but little by little, her classroom changed. I remember visiting her class a few months later and seeing a different atmosphere—learners were genuinely engaged, because they finally felt their learning mattered.
What if, instead of focusing on entertainment or external rewards, we focused on cultivating an environment where learners feel inspired to do their best because they are immersed in a culture that values growth, curiosity, and purpose?
Excellence Is Contagious—Here’s How to Spread It
A Culture of Excellence means setting clear standards, making those standards meaningful to everyone involved, and creating an environment that supports continuous growth. When you align learning with purpose—not just for the test or because it’s in the curriculum—you bring life into the learning.
Imagine a school where every learner is excited, engaged, and genuinely passionate about what they’re learning. This isn’t a utopian dream—it’s the natural outcome of building a Culture of Excellence.
When learners see excellence modelled, and they feel part of a culture that demands, celebrates, and supports their best, engagement takes care of itself. Excellence is a journey rather than a result, and the first step begins with you.
Sarah’s journey was a perfect example of this. One day, she decided to start a project on environmental science with her Year 8 learners. Instead of just assigning tasks, she began by discussing why understanding ecosystems was important. She asked her learners how they could make a difference in their community. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted—learners who were usually disinterested were raising their hands, sharing ideas, and connecting their learning to the world around them. They weren’t just completing a project; they were contributing to something bigger. That’s the power of purpose.
Purpose, vision, and community are what create that magic spark. Learners don’t just want to sit in a classroom and be told what to do; they want to know why they’re learning. They want to be challenged to grow, and to feel like they’re part of something bigger. By creating an environment where every learner sees how their learning fits into a bigger picture, we invite them to step up and own their journey.
How to Build That Culture Today
- Set a Shared Vision: Start by engaging learners in co-creating a vision for their learning. Talk about what excellence looks like and how each learner can contribute. I remember when Sarah and her class created a ‘Vision of Excellence’ board. Each student added their ideas of what excellence meant to them, and it became a daily reminder of their collective goal.
- Purpose-Driven Goals: Connect lessons to larger goals, and make the learning relevant to them. Involve them in unpacking the learning intentions (which are your achievement standards) while connecting them to learners’ interests, and co-create success criteria and lesson objectives with them. When Sarah started doing this with her learners, they felt they had much more stake in their learning, and their engagement soared.
- Encourage Reflection: Excellence grows with self-awareness. Build time for learners to reflect on their progress, celebrate wins, and identify areas for growth. Sarah introduced ‘Weekly Wins’ where learners would write down one thing they were proud of and one thing they wanted to improve. Over time, they became more comfortable with celebrating their achievements and embracing their areas for development.
- Model Excellence: Set the bar high—not just in what you teach but in how you approach learning. Model curiosity, persistence, and resilience. Excellence isn’t something to talk about—it’s something to embody. I remember Sarah sharing how she tackled a particularly challenging maths problem on the board, working through it in real time with her learners. Instead of pretending to have all the answers, she showed them how to persevere through a challenge. That transparency made a big impact, and her learners saw that excellence is about the process, not perfection.
But My School’s Not Ready for This…
I get it. Change can feel overwhelming, especially if you feel your school isn’t ready for a shift this big. But remember, building a Culture of Excellence doesn’t mean throwing out everything you’re doing today. It’s about small, intentional actions that add up to massive shifts over time.
When Sarah first started, she was worried that her colleagues might think she was being unrealistic or overly ambitious. So she started small with just her classroom, focusing on creating an environment that celebrated growth, valued curiosity over correctness, and supported her learners in taking ownership of their learning. Slowly, other teachers started noticing. They’d ask her, “Why are your students so engaged?” That’s how it starts—one classroom at a time, one small shift at a time.
Start small—choose one class, or one aspect of your teaching to approach differently. Excellence is as much about evolution as it is about revolution. You don’t need a school-wide overhaul overnight; you need consistent commitment to improvement.
Excellence Starts with You
The most important thing to remember is excellence is contagious. When you embody it, when you create an environment that celebrates growth and curiosity, learners will follow. The tools are simple—a shared purpose, a reflective mindset, and a commitment to connecting learning to life.
I’ve seen it firsthand, in teachers I’ve mentored like Sarah and many others. When we shift our focus from simply delivering content to nurturing a Culture of Excellence, everything changes. Learners become more engaged, more motivated, and more willing to take risks. They see that learning isn’t just about getting it right—it’s about growing, exploring, and being part of something meaningful.
Ready to Start the Journey?
If you’re ready to build a culture of excellence that will transform learning engagement, take the first step today by downloading the 6 Aspects of Excellence Guide. This resource will guide you through actionable steps to create a thriving culture of excellence in your school.
Download the 6 Aspects of Excellence Guide now and begin your journey. Reflect on your classroom environment. Where can you bring more purpose? How can you model excellence? Let’s make this journey together—one learner, one lesson, and one breakthrough at a time.
