What makes a good teacher? 7 qualities that make great teachers
Last updated 5 November 2026
Many teachers have asked themselves the same question: what makes a good teacher? While there is no right answer, and it varies depending on your learning style and personality, there are certain qualities of a good teacher that are largely universal.
So here, we've put together a list of 7 of these qualities to help answer the question: what makes a good teacher?
1. Being knowledgeable of your subject matter
One of the biggest characteristics of a good teacher is a keen interest in their chosen subject matter and a passion for continuous learning.
When a teacher has a love for their subject, it shines through. Students pick up on their teacher's enthusiasm and their own interest may be inspired in return.
Good teachers not only work with their existing knowledge, but strive to stay on top of the latest research in their field. This up-to-date knowledge helps you make real-world applications that help the subject come alive for students.
Knowledgeable teachers also have a wider bank of subject material to turn to in order to adapt the lesson to individual students' needs. This creates a more inclusive classroom, with high-quality adaptive teaching being a principle behind government SEND reforms and key to school inclusion strategies.
You can boost your own subject knowledge with an online CPD course, like Tes Institute's Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) for Teachers course. Courses like these help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of your subject and associated specialist pedagogy, develop critical reflection skills and gain confidence in the classroom.
2. Having strong classroom skills
While it is a key quality, enthusiasm alone isn’t enough to make someone a good teacher.
Good teachers also deliver effective lessons and support their student's learning. They should know the ins and outs of classroom resources, know how to mark student work, be able to write up accurate reports, and know how to deal with disciplinary issues.
An effective teacher tries to spark discussion, framing facts in such a way as to lead their students to look at the issue from all sides. This includes engaging the whole class, not just the most talkative pupils.
A combination of your teacher training and experience in the classroom goes a long way in helping you develop these skills – but there are also CPD courses to help you brush up.
3. Being able to set high expectations
A great teacher sets high expectations in the classroom to help students reach their full potential.
They set standards of mutual respect, so that everyone knows that poor behaviour and low-effort work will be noticed and responded to – but also make it clear that students can always ask for help when they need it
Good teachers believe that every student has the ability to learn, and are willing to push them to do their best.
4. Having excellent planning skills
Effective teaching involves a great deal of planning and organisation, and good teachers put in the effort to prepare their lessons.
Effective lesson planning helps manage student expectations, so students know exactly what is expected of them. Grading policies, assignments and objectives should all be clear, too.
Part of what makes a good teacher is the ability to stay organised, maintain accurate records and keep track of each student's strengths, as well as where they could improve.
Ultimately, effective planning helps you set clear expectations, which supports the whole classroom to stay on task.
5. Being able to create a sense of community
It’s not all about paperwork, rules, and task lists. A great teacher also forms strong relationships with their students.
It's essential that students are comfortable in the classroom and feel safe to share their ideas in a supportive learning environment. What often distinguishes a great teacher is their ability to create this sense of belonging.
As with any skill, this is something you will learn from experience. But it's important to stay open minded and not make judgements about students. You can also find resources to help you build community in the classroom.
6. Being adaptable
In teaching, no two days are the same and students can be unpredictable. As such, flexibility is a common characteristic of good teachers.
If a lesson isn’t working, or there is a disciplinary problem, a good teacher is able to adapt and shift gears when necessary.
This supports student learning and behaviour management as well as your own wellbeing – reminding yourself that things don't always go to plan is key.
7. Having strong communication skills
Effective teaching requires a great deal of communication. A large part of what makes a good teacher stand out is their ability to get messages across in lessons.
However, the best teachers are also able to communicate regularly with parents, through parents' evenings and written reports alike. If there are problems in the classroom, a good teacher will reach out to the parents by phone or email to discuss the issues.
A good teacher also has a collaborative spirit, working effectively with colleagues and taking on suggestions and constructive feedback.
Your teacher training will have got you off to a good start, but it's important to listen to others and remember that whether you're a seasoned teacher or recently qualified, you're still learning.
Develop your skills with Tes Institute
Some of these qualities may come naturally to you, but everyone has areas for improvement – and it's a sign of strength to know where yours are. Overall, a good teacher is one who is a lifelong learner.
At Tes Institute, we've qualified more than 4,300 teachers and supported over 3,200 schools in 111 countries. Whether you’re an experienced educator or just starting out, we can help.
Explore how our range of courses can support your career with our free on-demand webinars led by programme leaders. Plus, our CPD webinars help you learn practical approaches to supporting students that you can apply to your classroom practice.
Last updated 5 November 2026