ABSTRACT The article focuses on the final years of my PhD research in which I (Bernadette) explored in-school professional learning opportunities with a group of teachers who were working to support collaborative teaching methodologies to allow pupils to take an active role in their learning. This was set in the context of the development phase of Cosán, the national framework for teachers’ learning in Ireland, in which the profession could examine what it would mean for them in the context in which they practise. Explicit in this framework is the emphasis on the growth of teacher professional learning to enhance student outcomes. Central to this is reflective practice. The reader will see how this research shows that our facilitated engagement in the process of reflection through ongoing, sustained, critical and collaborative conversations allowed us not only to celebrate successes but also to challenge values, beliefs, and assumptions about why we do what we do, supporting us to make conscious decisions about possible future actions. In taking ownership of our practice, we were motivated to take the risk to examine it and take collective responsibility for making a difference in each other’s learning and in the interests of improving student learning.