In a profession that focuses on learning and knowledge, it is all too important for teachers to set aside time for Continuing Professional Development. Whether you are a teacher at a local primary school, a lecturer in a university, the head teacher of a large secondary school or a learning support assistant, regularly updating your knowledge and skills can help you remain competent, effective and innovative within your role. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to any activity, formal or informal, that helps you develop your skills and knowledge, and enhances your professional practice.
Why is CPD for Teachers Important?
For many school leaders, the importance of effective CPD for teaching staff is obvious. As the DfE’s Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development states ‘effective professional development for teachers is a core part of securing effective teaching.’
Continuing Professional Development comes in a variety of forms, ranging from traditional school training days to e-learning. With UK Schools annually spending £900M on education technology, CPD also allows both primary and secondary teachers to keep up to date with the latest developments which can be utilised to enhance everyday teaching. CPD offers one of the most effective ways to improve student performance, increase staff retention and develop a culture of excellence across a whole school. The overriding purpose is to help teachers continually improve the quality of their teaching. CPD should address development needs, maximise strengths and enable all teachers to meet the challenge of teaching in the 21st century.
Teaching methods are continually developing, and CPD gives teachers the opportunity to learn new techniques and strategies which enable them to keep up with colleagues who have just finished training. For example, many believe that Initial Teacher Training does not prepare teachers to help those who have special education needs and disabilities.
CPD can allow both primary and secondary teachers to build on their interaction skills and learn strategies for helping these pupils through increased motivation, confidence and commitment to teaching. Learning new skills and applying them in the classroom can also lead to a more stimulating and effective teaching environment.
Teacher CPD Examples
The range of experiences that contribute to teacher development is very wide and should be recognised as anything that has been undertaken to progress, assist or enhance a teacher’s professionalism.
CPD is intended to support teachers and to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to keep pace with the rapidly changing educational and professional environment. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) section of the UK National Education Union states that CPD for primary and secondary teachers can incorporate:
- Training courses and workshops
- Studying for a qualification or accreditation
- Online courses/webinars/podcasts
- Observation and shadowing
- Mentoring
- Peer group exchanges
- Attending exhibitions and conferences
- International exchanges
- Self-reflection, personal reading or research
What Makes Effective CPD for Teachers?
For CPD to be effective it has to be:
- Evidence-based – using the latest and most important research to date
- Practical – What do the findings mean to you and your classroom?
- Affordable – Being cost effective is vital, especially at a time when budgets are being slashed
- Enjoyable – often teachers’ complain that the training isn’t relevant or personalised enough, and that CPD is a time consuming box ticking exercise
Often it is difficult to find a relevant course that fits in with your other obligations. Sometimes, as you walk out of a course or seminar it’s hard to assess what you have actually learned. It is a necessity to have absorbed the necessary skills and to be able to apply them correctly in work.
Understanding CPD for Primary and Secondary Teachers
Teachers in the UK are encouraged to complete Continuing Professional Development each year, although not everyone will be able to access good quality training in school. When planning CPD activities, teachers and their managers should consider the particular needs of the individual, while taking account of school, local and national priorities. The CPD Plan should be compiled on the basis of individual need, taking account of school, local and national priorities.
Features of effective CPD
Whichever form your CPD takes, evidence shows that the most effective CPD is that which is:
- Personalised – i.e. built on your identified needs and requirements rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
- Relevant – relates to your teaching theory and/ or subject specialism and the needs of your learners.
- Sustained – New skills and ideas need time to take hold; experimentation and refinement is the best way to embed new ideas into your classroom practice.
- Supported – by coaching or mentoring from experienced colleagues, either from within or from outside your school.
- Collaborative – while teaching could be seen as a solitary profession, collaboration with your fellow teachers and colleagues has been identified as one of the most relevant features required for teacher learning.
The key to effective CPD is to record and review each activity, logging your reflections and thoughts and how you would use the activity to make a positive impact on your learners and colleagues. CPD is an autonomous journey, made with the support of your employer and any professional body you are a member of in order to enhance your teaching.
How to record CPD for Teachers
All primary and secondary teachers should maintain a CPD Profile for the current year and, where appropriate, two previous years. The profile will comprise a CPD Plan, indicating the development objectives and the development activities agreed during the annual professional review and a CPD record, briefly detailing the professional development activities undertaken. The CPD process involves logging your development and training activities, along with your reflections and opinions on each activity. These can include taking training courses, peer mentoring and keeping abreast of developments in your subject area.
Your employer may require you to complete a CPD report and you may also need to show evidence of your CPD record in order to become a member of a professional body or organisation. If you are looking for somewhere to log and record your ongoing Continuing Professional Development training in one simple place, please go to the free myCPD Portal record tool.
This article provides a simple outline of the Continuing Professional Development requirements for teaching professionals in the UK, as well as the key benefits and features of completing high quality CPD. The CPD Certification Service is the largest and leading independent Continuing Professional Development accreditation organisation working across all industry sectors. For more information please visit the CPD Industry Hubs for more CPD courses and events relevant to your individual requirements.
