One Simple Truth
What if the single most powerful factor influencing student achievement could be strengthened through understanding one simple truth: teacher-student relationships have potent influence on children's experiences and outcomes? Research by John Hattie (2023) reveals that collective teacher efficacy, teachers' shared belief in their ability to positively impact student learning, has the largest effect on student success, even more than socioeconomic status or prior achievement.
How do we support teachers to have confidence in their capacity to influence students?
A recent pilot at Mary Mackillop College, led by Guidance Counsellors Holly Robinson and Kirsty Kaeser, demonstrates how Circle of Security can contribute to this collective efficacy by helping teachers recognize the profound power of their relationships with students.
The Value of a Shared Framework
This pilot delivered COSP Classroom to five Year 8 teachers, bringing the lens of attachment into their classrooms and everyday interactions with students.
This approach naturally built the shared understanding that's essential for collective efficacy. Rather than learning in isolation, teachers developed common language and shared frameworks for understanding student behavior. "It's a collaborative, discussion-based learning experience where knowledge on the framework is co-constructed," one teacher noted.
Making Meaning of Complexity
Circle of Security addressed a fundamental challenge that can undermine teacher efficacy: when student behaviors seem confusing or unmanageable, teachers may doubt their ability to help. The program reframes challenging behaviors as communication about underlying needs.
"This is the perfect [professional development] to attend to assist with understanding how/why students act and react the way they do (all behaviour is communication) and develop a framework to understand this," reflected one teacher.
When teachers share an understanding that all behavior communicates needs, and they have tools to decode and respond to those needs, their collective confidence grows. They're no longer facing inexplicable problems but responding to understandable communication.
The Collective Transformation
Circle of Security helped teachers embody a Strong, Kind, and Committed presence in their classrooms. This framework gave teachers clear guidance on how to use their relational power effectively while building their confidence in their capacity to influence student outcomes.
Teachers became more attuned and responsive to the needs of students in their classroom, naturally eliciting greater cooperation and connection. One teacher reflected on this change: "More meeting them where they are at in the day/emotions. Bringing my classroom to meet them more than demanding they meet the classroom."
When teachers show up as Strong, Kind, and Committed, students experience something powerful. They feel their teacher's genuine warmth and sense that they matter to this important adult in their life. For adolescents especially, feeling valued and seen by teachers is crucial for their success at school.
Measurable Improvements in Shared Confidence
The pilot documented improvements in teacher efficacy across all domains. Teachers also demonstrated strong uptake of Circle of Security concepts, indicating they felt confident applying the framework in their practice.
Teachers reported observable changes that reinforced their growing confidence: "Students are calmer, and much more productive, better relationships."
These changes suggest that as teachers' confidence grew, they created classroom environments where students felt more secure and capable of managing their own emotions and behavior.
The Ripple Effect
When teachers collectively understand that their relationships with students genuinely influence learning outcomes, their shared efficacy becomes a powerful force for positive change. Circle of Security provided this teaching team with both the understanding and tools to strengthen their collective confidence in their ability to reach and teach all students.
The success of this pilot demonstrates that when teachers believe in their relational power and feel equipped to use it effectively, both teacher confidence and student outcomes improve.
Learn more about Circle of Security Classroom and its potential for building collective teacher efficacy at your school.
