Book Review: The Teacher Toolkit Guide to Feedback by Ross McGill
Ross McGill’s The Teacher Toolkit Guide to Feedback (2024, Bloomsbury Education, 180 pages) is a practical and evidence-based exploration of how teachers and school leaders can streamline feedback practices without sacrificing impact. MacGill’s central premise is clear: feedback should empower students, protect teacher wellbeing, and drive learning—not be reduced to marking policies or compliance exercises.
Ross' book is aimed squarely at school leaders, middle leaders, and classroom practitioners seeking to refine feedback systems amidst workload pressures and heightened accountability. Its timeliness is undeniable, given current debates around marking, staff retention, and Ofsted’s focus on formative assessment.
The book is structured around the “feedback triad”: feed-up (clarifying learning goals), feedback (assessing current progress), and feed-forward (signposting next steps). Across chapters, MacGill introduces frameworks, templates, and case studies—from Joseph Cash’s “Orange Box” written feedback model to Waverley School’s “Keep, Flip, Change” strategy and Delta Independent School’s “Positive Praise” verbal techniques. Each is supported by downloadable resources and practical illustrations.
A key strength is Ross’ emphasis on variety. He moves beyond traditional marking to spotlight verbal and non-verbal feedback as time-efficient, impactful tools. Practical tips, such as using student crib sheets, feed-forward planning grids, and CPD calendars, make the book highly usable for leaders and teachers alike. The case studies add depth by showing how diverse schools adapted the strategies for different contexts and age groups.
The book’s breadth is a double-edged sword. While leaders will value the range of strategies, some readers may find certain sections, especially on academic research, less directly applicable. More step-by-step guidance for whole-school implementation would strengthen its utility for time-poor leaders.
For school leaders, Ross’ guidance is clear: audit feedback policies, integrate feed-up, feedback, and feed-forward into teaching and CPD, and champion efficiency over volume. The ready-made templates and case studies make this suitable for staff training sessions or departmental CPD.
The Teacher Toolkit Guide to Feedback is an essential, pragmatic resource for school leaders and educators looking to refine feedback practices. It balances research with ready-to-use tools, making it ideal for CPD or policy development. School leaders seeking to reduce workload while improving learning outcomes will find it particularly valuable.