Welcome to the Teacher Development Trust March Newsletter. In this issue:
David Weston (@informed_edu) – SecED: Seven common CPD problems for schools
The Teacher Development Trust has audited the CPD plans, procedures and culture in more than 50 schools. David Weston explains the most common problems they found, and offers some solutions. Click here to read more.
Teachers’ Professional Development Expert Group
On 20th March 2015, David Weston was announced as the Chair of the new CPD Expert Group. With a mixture of respected teachers, head teachers and members from the National Education Trust, ResearchED and the Teaching Schools Council, the CPD Expert group aims to address the lack of understanding on effective professional development in the teaching profession. For information, click here to see the full press release.
David Weston (@informed_edu) (@staffrm)- 10 reasons why the College of Teaching is EXCITING
‘There’s been so much buzz and debate about the idea of a new College of Teaching. A really exciting time, and it’s worth remembering just why we’re doing this’.
The Teacher Development Trust is delighted with the Government’s announcement to pledge funds for the College of Teaching. You can find the new Claim Your College press release (20.02.15) here.
Carl Hendrick (@C_Hendrick) Engagement: Just because they’re busy, doesn’t mean they’re learning anything.
“I’ve long thought that one of the weakest proxy indicators of effective learning is engagement, and yet it’s a term persistently used by school leaders (and some researchers) as one of the most important measures of quality. In fact many of the things we’ve traditionally associated with effective teachers may not be indicative of students actually learning anything at all.”
IRIS Connect (@IRIS_Connect)- Shaping the future of CPD
“I think the key to improving teacher development is that schools’ work together.”
– Ashley Harrold, Deputy Head Teacher, Blatchington Mill School & Sixth Form College.
Read IRIS Connect’s ‘Shaping the Future of CPD: focus on the important, not on the urgent’ report here. The report puts forward a number of recommendations that have been made on a national, inter-school and school level and is a must read for anyone in the education sector.
Nathan Easey (@TheKeyNathan) Questions from school leaders around CPD
A special guest blog from The Key, looking at data and what’s on the minds of school leaders who are looking for information on managing continuing professional development (CPD). The blog also features a quote from Michael Holland, The Key’s researcher who specialises in CPD on the new independent Teachers’ Professional Development Expert Group.
SHINE – Let Teachers SHINE 2015
Run in partnership by the Shine Trust and TES, Let Teachers SHINE is a national competition that aims to find some of the country’s most innovative teachers with brilliant ideas to raise attainment in English, maths or science among disadvantaged students .The competition offers 10 grants of up to £15,000, is free to enter and is open to any teacher working in England. Whatever the idea, they’d like to hear about it! Click here to find out more.
David Weston (@informed_edu) – CPD and your subject
‘The more we tell teachers about generic best practice in the classroom, the less they will focus on students’ learning’ says David Weston. He argues for a subject-centred approach to CPD.
Event special: NTEN Conference: How to engage staff in their CPD
Teacher Development Trust welcomes NTEN and non-NTEN members to an exciting event taking place on 28th April 2015 at Bluecoat Academy, Nottingham. Key questions will be tackled on how support can be given towards staff in their own professional learning, along with the steps needed to achieve this. A great opportunity to network and share best practice with other schools. Click here to purchase your tickets.
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