We’re absolutely delighted to announce a new partnership with long-standing TDT friend and Associate Shane Leaning. Together, we’ll be helping CPD Leads in international schools build stronger connections, access evidence and research, and strategically plan and improve the approach to staff development in their schools by offering the first dedicated Asia Cohort of our flagship Associate Qualification in CPD Leadership!
Open for applications now, this assessed programme runs over 10 months and starts in November 2025. You can read more and apply now here.
A Nuanced Approach
Global research consistently shows that high-quality teaching is the surest way to improve academic outcomes. Teachers stay and thrive in their practice when a strong and well led programme of Continuous Professional Development is in place.
In our conversations with international school leaders, we know that many grapple with common challenges: how to attract and retain great teachers, how to ensure that ongoing staff development is high-quality, relevant and evidence-based and crucially, how to ensure CPD drives pupil outcomes and academic success.
While many organisations will sell “one size fits all” CPD as a package, we know that lasting good practice occurs when leaders learn the nuance, principles and practice behind effective CPD, empowering them to apply it to their existing knowledge of what works in their setting and in their geographical context.
Immediate Impact
The qualification, now entering its 13th cohort, has been a cornerstone of TDT’s work for over eight years. Hundreds of leaders in the UK and beyond have completed the programme to date, with international school leaders, including Shane, consistently among them.
A new Asia-focused cohort allows us to recognise the unique challenges and opportunities of international schools and creates a contextualised, supportive space for CPD Leads to come together, developing both their own practice and a transformation plan for their schools.
“Having worked across international schools in Asia for over a decade, I’ve seen too many schools struggle with fragmented PD. When I completed TDT’s programme on one of their first cohorts, it gave me the frameworks and evidence base that completely changed how I support schools. I’m genuinely excited to be collaborating on this Asia-focused cohort because international schools deserve access to this calibre of CPD leadership development. It’s the only programme I know that combines this level of rigour with real understanding of our sector’s challenges.”
Shane Leaning
“We’re lucky enough to count Shane as one of our TDT Associates, he has been a consistent friend and supporter of TDT’s values and approach for a long time. We are excited to be combining our experience and expertise to reach more international school leaders with greater nuance and understanding.”
Anne Cameron, TDT’s Director of Partnerships and Impact
What to Expect
Participants in the Asia Cohort will benefit from:
- Exploring a trusted, curated evidence base on effective professional development
- Flexible, online delivery with Shane and our Professional Learning Leads that respects time zones and workload
- Live expert coaching and real-time collaboration with peers across the region
- Contextualised gap tasks and tailored impact-driven improvement plans for their own schools
- An accredited Associate Qualification from a respected UK education charity
Graduates of the programme consistently report meaningful and immediate impact. In 2024, 100% of participants said they would recommend the course, many of whom have gone on to lead significant cultural shifts in how their schools approach professional learning.
As one previous participant shared, “It was transformative, not just for me professionally, but for how we think about learning across our whole staff.” You can read more impact stories here.
With recruitment now open, international schools across Asia are invited to apply and take another step toward evidence-informed, sustainable staff development that truly makes a difference.
For more information or to register interest, visit tdtrust.org/qualification-in-cpd-leadership-international/
