Extraordinary Leaders
Empowered Staff
Expert Schools
TDT: The smart, heart, humble education charity for professional development
We help give you the clarity, confidence and capacity to build and lead a culture of expertise in your school or trust, where empowered staff thrive so that children succeed.
Our reflective, diagnostic approach gives leaders confidence that effective professional development is prioritised and that all staff participate meaningfully in tailored, evidence based training that builds expertise in an empowering way. External evaluations of our work show positive impact on teaching and learning, morale and teacher retention.
Using a strong international evidence base of what constitutes successful teacher professional development, we work with partners across the education sector to promote the principles of effective and impactful Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through:
TDT Programmes
Offering and continuously developing our flagship suite of Professional Development Programmes to support school and system leaders in implementing effective staff development strategies.
Expert Schools Programmes,
Building Expert Leaders Programme,
National Professional Qualifications,
Associate Qualification in CPD Leadership, Pedagogical Coaching, Collaborative Enquiry
TDT Expert School Network
Stimulating demand for high quality CPD through the growing national and international network of schools and colleges engaging in our programmes. Our Expert Schools Network Membership provides world class, evidence informed professional learning, knowledge sharing and research. We foster collaboration and networking opportunities among teachers, school and system leaders, and educational organisations.
Advocacy
Publicising and disseminating research and insights, campaigning and advising government to raise the status of professional development.
We play an active role in advocating for the importance of teacher development at policy level; working with policymakers, educational bodies, and government agencies to shape policies that prioritise and support high-quality professional learning opportunities for teachers.
Our values and approach
Smart
We are SMART – all of our work is deeply rooted in evidence. We want to know what works and seek out the brightest and the best minds to help shape our programmes, research and advocacy.
Heart
We have HEART – teaching and learning is about people and connection. Even the strongest evidence for improvement will be ineffective if not implemented by expert, empowered teachers at the front of the classroom.
Humble
We are HUMBLE – we are always curious, we are always learning. We are led by the evidence, but we also have the humility to keep testing our understanding and adapt.
What teachers and school leaders say:
Our story in numbers
%
of teachers and school leaders would recommend their TDT NPQ to a colleague
*Percentage of respondents in survey
”The course material is utterly brilliant. Such high quality and carefully crafted. The spirit and ethos of TDT is forefront.”
NPQ Facilitator
Number of teachers and school leaders who have participated in TDT NPQs
Number of schools that have benefited from TDT's Diagnostic Review
%
of school leaders would recommend the Diagnostic Review as part of their school development planning
*Percentage of respondents in survey
%
of teachers and school leaders would recommend the TDT Associate Qualification in CPD Leadership to a colleague
*Percentage of respondents in survey
Our Research and Insights
Read about the research that underpins our work and our insights into effective CPD
Newsletters
Sign up to our monthly intelligence briefing for everyone interested in professional learning
Our Impact
On school improvement, teaching and learning, morale and teacher retention
Our Blog
Findings from the ECF Review
TDT’s newly published exploratory study, gratefully enabled by funding from the Gatsby Foundation, led by Professor Sam Twiselton and supported by Nansi Ellis, explores how England’s flagship Early Career Framework (ECF) programme for new teachers might be enhanced in...
Creating a CPD entitlement that works – our findings
Read full report The teaching profession is up against it at the moment. It faces challenges around recruitment and retention, restrictions on funding, and too often feels a lack of trust in its ability to educate children and young people. As an organisation, we know...
Quality early years education crucial for better life outcomes
High-quality professional development to support children in their first five years In the first part of this blog reflecting on the importance of the first five years, Hannah Tyreman, Curriculum Designer, Teacher Development Trust, shares how experiences in the first...
High quality CPD can help schools overcome diverse challenges when it’s adaptive, responsive and part of the culture
In this guest blog, Haili Hughes, Director of Education at IRIS Connect, shares her thoughts around why adaptive professional learning is essential to teacher wellbeing In a 2022 survey by Teacher Tapp, teachers were asked to comment on the statement: “My school's...
How can we make CPD work better for teachers?
Today Teacher Tapp has published data that sheds new light on the perceptions of teachers in relation to their own professional development. We welcome this as an important and additional contribution to the wider understanding of how those invested in professional...
Don’t miss the co-authors of Unleashing Great Teaching, Bridget Clay and David Weston, at the TDT National Conference on 30th January 2024
The Teacher Development Trust National Conference is fast approaching, and one of the many highlights will be hearing from Unleashing Great Teaching co-authors Bridget Clay and David Weston. Five years after publication, David and Bridget sat down together to reflect...
Pathways to a Brighter Future: The Climate Wise Schools Initiative
In a world where the urgency of climate change demands immediate attention, the critical gap in comprehensive climate change education (CCE) within schools becomes glaringly apparent. As TDT's Curriculum Associate, Heena Dave, underscores, many existing approaches to...
Choose wisely. Not all NPQs are created equal
Choosing to undertake an NPQ can be a difficult decision. Do you have the time? Will it be worth the effort? Will it benefit the children and young people you work with? So far, feedback from thousands of graduates around the country is a resounding yes, so if you are...
Improvement through Empowerment
Following today's publication of the new IPPR report, our Co-CEO (Innovation & Research), David Weston, responds and reflects on some of the key recommendations. In the landscape of education, an important transformation is on the horizon. The recent report...
Building a trust-wide wellbeing culture
Building a trust-wide wellbeing culture In this guest blog, Ben Levinson OBE shares with us his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of creating a meaningful wellbeing culture across a Trust At TDT’s upcoming conference, I will be part of a panel discussing...
Curiosity, concepts and the power of story – unleashing expert teaching through curriculum in our schools and trusts
Curiosity, concepts and the power of story - unleashing expert teaching through curriculum in our schools and trusts In this guest blog, Mary Myatt shares with us her thoughts on how developing and using high quality materials and texts in the classroom helps ...
“Great leaders do not create followers, they create more leaders” Tom Peters
From hero headteachers to empowered expert teams, how can professional development help avoid burnout in schools? We’re pleased to welcome guest blogger and valued TDT partner Jane Kennedy, Lead Advisor Professional Learning & Commercial Engagement for Education...
CPD Entitlement for Teachers: Have Your Say!
Teachers, leaders - we need your help! The best available evidence indicates that great teaching is THE most important lever schools have to improve outcomes for all pupils, regardless of background, challenge or need. Our core charitable mission here at TDT is to...
CPD: Creating a thriving school culture
Five years on from the publication of Unleashing Great Teaching, co-author David Weston considers the CPD landscape in schools, the growing evidence-base, and some of the practical implications for our work to create thriving school cultures. Five years after we...
Unlocking Excellence: Your Guide to our NPQs Webinar video, 14th September 2023
Find out more about our entire suite of National Professional Qualifications by watching this Q&A session hosted by TDT Co-CEO, Gareth Conyard with insights from our NPQ team and some of our past and present NPQ participants....