
A 8-month intensive course designed to nurture future school and national champions of professional development.
Participants will critically engage with leading research and experience best practice first-hand, creating robust CPD plans for 2023/24 and beyond that align with the DfE CPD Standards.
Join this course to:
- Cultivate transformative CPD leadership in your school using a plan based on leading research, the DfE CPD Standards and best international practice around CPD
- Raise teacher morale and staff retention through prioritising workforce development to become an employer of choice
- Improve outcomes for students, particularly the most disadvantaged, through effective teacher development
- Become a local and national Champion of professional development.
Who should apply?
It is aimed at existing and aspiring CPD leaders in schools. Our previous successful associates include: Assistant Headteachers, Headteachers, Vice Principals, Heads of Teaching and Learning, CPD Leads, Deputy Headteachers, Teaching Academy Directors, Directors of Learning, Subject Heads.
What is involved?
Training for the associate qualification includes:
- Online blended learning with 3 live webinars
- Email and telephone coaching
- Around 50 hours of asynchronous activities and self-study
- A visit to another school, which participants arrange themselves
- An in-school project to evaluate and refine the leadership, culture and process of CPD within your school
- Production of a 7000-word portfolio
- Ongoing online supervision support
Participants will be supported to create a CPD plan for 2023/24 and demonstrate how it aligns with leading research, the DfE CPD Standards and best international practice around CPD.
What does the programme cover?
- Timing and structure of CPD.
- Commissioning and engaging with expertise.
- Creating a framework for evaluation.
- Designing CPD with impact.
- Fostering an effective culture for teacher learning.
- Developing your senior and middle leadership teams.
- Creating route maps for career development.
See dates and costs on the right of this page. If you have any questions, please email enquiries@tdtrust.org
What content does the course cover?
Unit 1
Introduction To Key Principles

Blended learning around professional development research including the work of key international figures such as Philippa Cordingley, Helen Timperley and Viviane Robinson.
Participants will explore the research behind effective professional learning – both process and leadership. This will include analysis of current approaches to performance management.
Portfolio tasks: A critical review of the research. Prepare to review current plans and approaches by collating initial evidence.
Unit 2
Implementing Change
Participants will explore how to review the effectiveness of a school’s culture, process and leadership of CPD. They will use this information to identify the priorities for their CPD plans. Participants will explore practical examples of good practice from other schools.
Portfolio tasks: Carry out review. Complete draft 1 for 2023/24 CPD plan. Supported to engage with further theory and visit other schools.
Coaching Conversation And Visit
Participants will carry out a visit and will arrange a coaching call with a TDT Associate (previous course participant) or Course Leader to support their work.
Unit 3
Finalising Portfolio And Becoming A CPD Champion
Participants will be supported to finalise their CPD plans and to align them with the DfE CPD Standards. Participants will also develop evaluation strategies to rigorously measure the impact of the CPD plans. Finally, participants will consider how they can become local and national champions of CPD!
Draft And Final Submission
Participants will submit a full portfolio draft for review for a Summer 2024 deadline. Final submission date will be set during the Autumn Term, 2023.

Cohort 10, 2023/2024 details
- Days 1 (Face to Face): Wednesday 6th November 2023
- Day 2: Wednesday 6th December 2023
- Day 3: Wednesday 6th March 2024
- Coaching support from expert leaders
- Networking and support
Online Guarantee – Apply with Confidence
Our course is delivered remotely, making use of a range of dynamic synchronous and asynchronous learning methods.
Cost
TDT Impact Package: course is included in the package at no additional cost
TDT Network member schools – £995
Non-member schools – £1,495
Course benefits
- Cultivate transformative CPD leadership in your school using a plan based on leading research, the DfE CPD Standards and best international practice around CPD
- Raise teacher morale and staff retention through prioritising workforce development to become an employer of choice
- Improve outcomes for students, particularly the most disadvantaged, through effective teacher development
- Become a local and national Champion of professional development.
Testimonials
100% of current participants would recommend this course to colleagues
100% of current participants agree that the content is pitched at the right level of challenge
100% of current participants agree with the course’s balance between input and activities
“‘I’m really enjoying the course! It’s so
well-designed and I like the way it utilises
blended learning and gets us to read and
reflect so much before the first session.” David Marshall, Thinking School Coordinator, Notting Hill Prep.
“I’m a massive advocate for the associate
programme and I’m looking to be able to
send some more of our staff on it just so
they’re exposed to the brilliance and the
research, which is a really important thing. I
can’t praise the programme enough!” Tom Manthorpe, School Leader: Teaching, Henry Box School.
Sign up for more information