The Evidence Matrix
Our GOER Principles are statements of shared truths. This matrix provides a clear roadmap for providers to evaluate their practices and track their growth journey.
providers have not yet established the required practices and are aware of what needs to be done.
providers have made great progress towards the required practices but they are not yet fully consistent in application.
providers meet all required practices consistently throughout their areas of operation.
providers are raising the performance bar, pushing themselves towards innovation and improvement and creating a model for others in the field.
The Impact Principle
Learning impact is intentional, evidence-informed, and visible across diverse learners. Leading providers design for measurable learning impact, using research-aligned pedagogy that promotes engagement, autonomy, and growth for all learners.
- Sample online lessons showing content delivery without differentiation
- Screenshots of minimal learner interaction (e.g., text-based lectures)
- Basic attendance logs
- Statements of intent regarding inclusivity or SEN but no implementation data
- Early-stage curriculum outlines
- Provider self-reflection on current limitations
- Unit plans showing emerging differentiation
- Examples of quizzes, check-ins, or engagement tracking tools
- Evidence of staff training on differentiation or online pedagogy
- Early dashboards showing participation or progress indicators
- Records of small adjustments made based on learner feedback
- Lesson recordings demonstrating learner agency and interaction
- Data dashboards showing learning outcomes across demographic groups
- Differentiated learning pathways or adaptive tools in use
- Examples of formative feedback cycles
- Learner reflections or portfolios demonstrating growth
- Inclusion audits or SEN accommodation logs
- Research partnerships or pilot studies with measurable impact
- Innovative pedagogical models documented and shared publicly
- Case studies of diverse learner success
- Evidence of provider presenting at conferences / publishing insights
- External recognition of excellence in online learning impact
The Governance Principle
Good Governance ensures ethical operation, clarity of direction, accountability, and organisational sustainability. Leading providers demonstrate ethical, transparent, well-structured governance that ensures wise direction, effective management, and responsible decision-making.
- Draft or incomplete policy documents
- Organizational charts showing unclear or fluid roles
- Meeting notes indicating ad-hoc decision-making
- Early attempts at documentation
- Statements acknowledging need for stronger governance
- Finalized organizational chart
- Published policies: safeguarding, data protection, quality assurance, escalation
- Job descriptions and accountability frameworks
- Minutes from leadership meetings
- Evidence of compliance checks
- Governance manual with review cycles
- Risk register and mitigation strategies
- Stakeholder consultation records (staff, students, families)
- Compliance audit summaries
- Annual report with transparent data
- Evidence of ethical decision-making protocols
- Published governance impact reports
- External benchmarking or audits shared with the sector
- Evidence of mentoring other providers in governance
- Stakeholder trust surveys
- Transparency dashboards
- Participation in governance innovation networks
The Delivery Principle
Effective delivery systems are reliable, accessible, safe, user-centred, and aligned with learning purposes. Leading providers deliver learning effectively through accessible, secure, user-focused digital systems and intentional design that supports engagement and success.
- Screenshots of basic tools used
- Reports of technical limitations or frequent outages
- Minimal user-support documentation
- Evidence of inconsistent accessibility practices
- Sample login/user flows showing friction
- Platform uptime reports
- Helpdesk logs demonstrating functional but limited support
- Accessibility checklist (partial)
- Data security policy (draft or partial)
- Early UX improvements tied to user feedback
- Full accessibility compliance documentation (WCAG etc.)
- Security audit certificates
- User support workflows and response times
- Evidence of intentional tool selection aligned with pedagogy
- Data on platform performance and user satisfaction
- Examples of adaptive or AI-supported tools improving outcomes
- Roadmaps for technology innovation
- External audits showcasing excellence in security/UX/accessibility
- Published reports on tech innovations shared with the sector
- Evidence of interoperability, API integrations, mobile optimization
The Belonging Principle
Belonging is built through safeguarding, inclusion, representation, and learner voice. Leading providers create a safe, inclusive culture where every learner is respected, represented, and able to participate with confidence.
- Draft safeguarding policies
- Partial DEI statements
- Records of isolated safeguarding awareness activities
- Initial staff training logs
- Feedback channels not yet standardized
- Completed safeguarding and DEI policies
- Certificates of staff participation in related training
- Examples of learner surveys or feedback tools
- Initial actions taken in response to feedback
- Representation audits (e.g., materials review)
- Evidence of safeguarding integrated into operations (risk logs, reporting pathways)
- Annual DEI training cycles
- Learner councils, focus groups, or advisory panels
- Reports showing increased representation or psychological safety
- Clear documentation of incident-handling processes
- Publications or presentations on inclusive online environments
- Models or frameworks shared with peer organizations
- External recognition of safeguarding excellence
- Partnerships with inclusion-focused NGOs or agencies
- Transparent reporting dashboards for community oversight
The Sustainability Principle
Sustainability is integrated into principles, policies, practices, and culture. Leading providers contribute to environmental and social sustainability through conscious policies, responsible operations, and meaningful community impact.
- Early statements of sustainability interest
- Sporadic eco-awareness campaigns
- Minimal tracking of ecological or social impact
- No formal sustainability policies
- Records of basic sustainability initiatives (digital-first strategies, energy reduction)
- Evidence of participation in eco-awareness events
- Initial sustainability policy documents
- Early employee engagement activities
- Sustainability action plan with KPIs
- Evidence of sustainable procurement
- Integration of sustainability in curriculum and operations
- Energy/consumption audits
- Evidence of sustainability training for staff and learners
- Public sustainability reporting
- Partnerships with community or environmental organizations
- Evidence of measurable community impact
- Alignment reports with SDGs
- Innovations shared with sector peers
The Progress Principle
Progress is visible, celebrated, and used to guide next-step learning. Leading providers honour both achievement (“the point arrived at”) and growth (“the distance travelled”), ensuring every learner experiences meaningful progress.
- Basic certificates or recognition tokens
- Lack of structured progress tracking
- Inconsistent feedback systems
- Provider reflection on need for clearer progress frameworks
- Learner goals or development plans
- Examples of feedback given
- Early data dashboards tracking learner progress
- Records of achievement celebrations or progress recognition
- Documented learner portfolios
- Evidence of learners tracking their own growth
- Progress dashboards used in coaching or tutorials
- External recognition programs
- Peer-learning events or cycles
- Published growth frameworks
- Provider mentoring other organisations on assessment literacy
- Case studies demonstrating exceptional progress stories
- Participation in sector working groups on “growth as learning”
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