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Use of Expert Knowledge

This domain highlights how schools can effectively use external resources to support staff CPD. Engaging with good-quality external expertise allows staff to learn about the latest research and gain support as they translate it into practice. It also offers new perspectives, preventing a school from becoming an ‘echo chamber’ of ideas. Staff need to be sufficiently challenged to catalyse their learning and sustain engagement with their practice.

It’s important that staff attending external courses are given sufficient time and support to embed new ideas or strategies. Exploring opportunities for collaboration with other schools is an excellent way of building networks and sharing knowledge and practice.

Find out more in our Free Hub

What does the research say?

The Commissioning Futures report from Young Foundation (2018) suggested that a key aspect of evidence-based practice was bringing in external expertise. It highlights that bringing in such outside perspectives enriches school cultures and challenges embedded ideas which could become barriers to change.

The DfE Standards for Teacher Development recommend that schools use external CPD providers to “Challenge current orthodoxies, raise expectations and introduce evidence-informed practices.”

Explore more research

Learn how to Leverage Internal Expertise in Your Setting

Our interactive e-learning module will support you to:

  • Recognise the principles and benefits of sharing expertise and teacher collaboration
  • Reflect on different approaches to creating a culture of sharing expertise within your own context.
  • Identify actionable next steps for continuing your learning.

Learn through videos and case studies from real school leaders, reflect on your practice, and read breakdowns of the research behind how staff collaboration and knowledge sharing can work effectively

Find out more