In a decentralised system Continuing Professional Development and Learning (CPDL) will no longer be driven (or funded) by support from national and local agencies. So what do we know about the kinds of CPD schools are looking for –and about what makes most difference?
Three answers seem to be collaboration, collaboration, collaboration. First, working with other teachers in developing practice feels right – the chance to work with others is often the most highly rated part of CPD events. Second, teachers and leaders learn just as much, often more, from supporting other teachers’ learning as they learn from being supported by a colleague (see our Effective Mentoring and Coaching packs for the evidence).Third, schools are increasingly understanding the power and potential of comparing similarities and differences.
But whilst collaboration feels natural it takes extra time and coordination. This means being sure that the strategies you explore collaboratively have the potential to make a real difference. Click here to find two minute PowerPoints that make the evidence about the effectiveness of different strategies for different contexts truly accessible and usable. Or click here for a route map you can use to point colleagues to practical tools and resources to ensure their collaborative efforts pay dividends.
We look forward to reporting the outcomes from this work. Do contact alison.halford@curee.co.uk if your clusters would like to work with CUREE to support your effective CPD.