Schools as Learning Organisations Framework (SALO-F™)
​The Schools as Learning Organisations Framework is a practical, evidence-informed framework that helps schools strengthen leadership, improve professional practice, and sustain improvement over time.
It brings together what we know from research, policy, and real-world school improvement into a single, coherent structure that schools can use to guide development, decision-making, and inspection readiness.
SALO-F is built around a school’s Core Framework, which brings together six connected elements.
Together, these elements shape how the school works, learns, and improves — not as separate initiatives, but as an integrated system.
Improvement is sustained when leadership, culture, professional practice, and ways of working are aligned.
At the heart of SALO-F is a shared Core Framework that holds these elements together.
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About the SALO Framework
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SALO-F was developed through over 15 years of applied work with schools, local authorities, and governments across the UK, translating research on learning organisations into a practical, leadership-led framework for sustainable improvement.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Core Framework
The shared foundation
The Core Framework provides clarity of purpose, values, and professional expectations.
It sets out what matters, why it matters, and how people are expected to work together day to day.
This shared foundation allows improvement work to be coherent rather than fragmented, and provides a stable reference point during change.
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Leadership
​Clarity, consistency, and ownership
Leadership focuses on clear expectations and consistent practice at all levels.
It supports ownership, trust, and effective decision-making, ensuring leadership is not dependent on individuals alone but embedded across the organisation.
Mindset
The habits of work and learning
Mindset refers to the habits of work and learning that shape professional behaviour.
It supports reflection, professional learning, and continuous improvement, helping staff respond thoughtfully to challenge rather than relying on compliance or quick fixes.
Innovation
Practical improvement in action
Innovation is about the practical approaches and systems that help the school adapt, learn, and move forward with intent.
It supports disciplined experimentation, evaluation, and refinement — ensuring improvement is purposeful rather than reactive.
Alignment & Autonomy
Professional judgement within clear guardrails
Alignment and Autonomy describes the balance between professional freedom and shared structure.
Staff are empowered to use their professional judgement within clear, agreed expectations — providing both confidence and consistency, and reducing reliance on micromanagement or over-control.
​Culture
​The conditions for trust and performance
Culture focuses on the conditions that enable trust, collaboration, wellbeing, and high professional standards.
It recognises that sustainable improvement depends on how people experience the organisation, not just on policies or structures.
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From framework to everyday practice
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The SALO-F is not a set of ideas to adopt all at once.
The framework is introduced and developed over time, in a way that fits the rhythm of school life and avoids unnecessary overload.
It supports schools to move from intent to embedded practice, without adding unnecessary complexity.
Evidence, policy, and inspection alignment
SALO-F is grounded in established research on learning organisations, professional learning, leadership, and school improvement.
It aligns with:
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Evidence-informed approaches to organisational learning and improvement
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Inspection expectations around leadership, professional practice, culture, and continuous improvement
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The Welsh Government’s ambition for all schools in Wales to operate as Schools as Learning Organisations
The framework translates theory and policy into a clear, usable structure that supports schools to demonstrate coherence, impact, and sustainability.
SALO-F does not replace existing frameworks or inspection requirements — it helps schools organise and evidence their work more effectively.
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Who SALO-F is for
The framework is designed for schools and school systems that:
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Want a coherent approach to improvement
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Need to demonstrate alignment with inspection and policy expectations
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Are seeking sustainable change rather than short-term initiatives