I was lying in bed one evening, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, when I stopped on a post from Miranda Hart.
She was talking about being on holiday and realising she could only truly relax if there was some structure to her day. Not rigid plans or military schedules — just enough of a timetable to feel calm. Breakfast, reading, walking, swimming. “Relaxed with structure,” she called it.
And instantly, I thought: that’s exactly what great teaching feels like.
The best lessons are not chaotic and completely improvised, but they’re also not painfully over-scripted performances where every second is controlled. Effective teaching sits somewhere in the middle.
We need strong structures underneath our lessons — clear routines, purposeful sequencing, clear end goals and direction. That framework keeps learning focused and aligned to the specification.
But within that structure, there has to be space.
Space to listen. Space to respond to confusion. Space to adapt examples, reteach concepts, follow curiosity, and shape the learning around the students in front of us.Because teaching is not delivering a script. It is responding intelligently to people in real time.
But we do need a structure, this gives freedom to personalise the learning without losing sight of where we are trying to get to, achieving the learning objectives, the end point assessment.
Relaxed with structure.
Maybe that’s what both holidays — and outstanding lessons — really need.
A strong lesson structure provides a clear pathway for learning, helping teachers achieve learning objectives and move learners towards long-term goals. Structures such as Do Now, I Do, We Do, You Do and Reflect create clarity, consistency and progression. However, the structure should remain flexible enough for students to be heard, teaching to be adapted and lessons to stay responsive and student-centered.
Jo Reeves 
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