DATE 2025
When educator and author Ollie Lovell started recording a podcast in the upstairs room of a Melbourne pub, he wasn’t planning to disrupt how schools approach teacher development. But 10 years later, his Education Research Reading Room has become one of Australia’s most respected education podcasts - and his work is now informing teacher practice across the country.
In episode two of Magnify Matters, Ollie joins Catholic Education Sandhurst’s Assistant Director of Learning and Teaching, Tim Edwards, to discuss the science of professional development, the role of instructional coaching, and how a new partnership with StepLab Australia is helping teachers across the Sandhurst Diocese embed better practice every day.
“If we want sustainable change, people need to feel like it’s their change,” says Ollie.
“We’re not just telling teachers what to do — we’re giving them structure, support and space to grow.”
The conversation forms part of the Magnify Matters podcast — a new series documenting the rollout of Magnify Sandhurst, a science of learning-based school improvement initiative launched across 51 Catholic schools in 2025.
Magnify Sandhurst is designed to deliver lasting learner growth by strengthening teacher practice, embedding a low-variance, knowledge-rich curriculum, and building calm, predictable classrooms where all students can thrive.
Crucially, it’s not about doing more — it’s about doing what matters most.
What Is StepLab?
StepLab is a professional learning platform developed by UK educators Josh Goodrich and Matt Hood. Built around instructional coaching, it provides schools with everything needed to implement world-class teacher development: expert models, clearly defined teaching techniques, real-time feedback tools, and data to track growth.
Lovell, now Director of StepLab Australia, explains how the tool has evolved.
“It started as pencils and paper — literally. Josh was writing out techniques and handing them to coaches,” he says. “But the research was clear: if we wanted to embed great practice across a whole system, we needed a tool that could scale.”
That tool now supports over 8,000 schools across the UK and Australia. At its core are the 14 mechanisms of effective professional learning — from building knowledge to motivating teachers and embedding real change.
“We’ve built the platform around those 14 mechanisms,” says Lovell. “That’s what makes StepLab different. It’s not just a list of strategies — it’s a system to help teachers actually apply them.”
From Global Theory to Local Practice
Through its partnership with StepLab, Catholic Education Sandhurst has trained over 120 educators in its first wave of instructional coaching — all part of the Magnify Sandhurst rollout.
But Lovell is quick to point out that this isn’t about importing a program. It’s about adapting evidence-informed practice to fit the unique context of regional and rural Catholic schools.
“The magic of Magnify is that it’s a whole system working together,” he says. “Everyone is rowing in the same direction — not because they were told to, but because they were invited to co-create that vision.”
He also notes how well StepLab complements the existing work in Sandhurst.
“The curriculum and theory were already strong,” Lovell says. “Where StepLab fits is in the ‘how’ — the techniques. That’s the glue between theory and curriculum.”
A Culture of Shared Growth
In schools using StepLab, early signs are promising. UK research has shown teacher satisfaction with PD rising from 34% to 88% in some contexts. Retention improves. Student outcomes follow.
But Lovell is most passionate about the cultural shift coaching can bring.
“This isn’t about compliance or tick-box training,” he says. “It’s about building a culture of shared growth — where feedback is normal, development is continuous, and teachers feel supported, not judged.”
That vision is now being brought to life in classrooms across Sandhurst — one deliberate step at a time.
Want to hear the full story?
Listen to Magnify Matters: Instructional Coaching That Works with Ollie Lovell. Search 'Magnify Matters' on your favourite podcast app or visit [insert link].
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