Back on Track: doing fewer things well
Using the 80/20 rule and the Eisenhower Matrix to clear the clutter and refocus on what really matters.
On a recent school visit, I watched a Year 4 class completely absorbed in a discussion about how rivers change their course over time. The teacher wasn’t rushing to “get through” the lesson; they were staying with the idea—probing, questioning, giving pupils space to think. It was a reminder that when we slow down and go deeper, learning has the chance to breathe.
But in many cases we’ve made things too complicated. Between marking policies, data drops, and endless meetings, we’ve sometimes mistaken motion for progress. Classrooms are busy—but not always focused on the things that make the biggest difference to learning.
In this new webinar, Fewer Things in Greater Depth, we’ll explore how applying the 80/20 rule and the Eisenhower Matrix can help schools refocus time and attention on what really moves the dial.
The 80/20 principle reminds us that a small proportion of our work creates most of the impact. The Eisenhower Matrix helps us distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s important—because so often the truly important work is what gets squeezed out.
Drawing on Back on Track, we’ll consider how to:
Identify and abandon activities that add little value.
Build curriculum and classroom practice around coherence and depth.
Use time and energy wisely, focusing on the 20% of actions that deliver 80% of the outcomes.
Create conditions where pupils think hard, know more, and take pride in meaningful work.
As David Allen says, “We can do anything, but not everything!”
Join the Fewer Things in Greater Depth webinar on Monday 12 January 4-5pm here.
Until next time!
Mary