Research and Insights
Teacher Development Trust (TDT) is the smart, heart, humble charity for effective professional development in schools
Founded in 2012 by teachers and school leaders, our mission is to support extraordinary leaders to empower staff and build expert schools. We want to see powerful professional development in every school and college so that teachers thrive and children succeed. With support from globally leading partners, researchers and advisors, we curate and disseminate the most rigorous evidence and support school leaders around the country to network, and to improve their staff development approaches.
Research
We approach our collaborative research and the offering of insights to school and trust leaders in the same way we do everything at TDT – with our values in mind.
We are SMART, always deeply rooted in evidence. We have HEART, we put people and relationships at the centre. And we are HUMBLE, we are always curious, we are always learning. We are fortunate to work with thousands of school leaders across our range of programmes, as participants, facilitators and Delivery Partners. Their lived experience informs the continuous improvement and development of our work.
Below is a selection of research and reports TDT have either led or played a central role in developing:
Advisory Group: Creating a CPD Entitlement that works
In September 2023 we launched an Expert Group to explore and advise government on policy development around a professional development entitlement for teachers. We believe that if done well, this could play a powerful part in ensuring that more schools feel like great places to work and develop. We want the best wisdom of the profession to be used in every classroom, to help staff and children thrive and succeed in expert schools.
Advisory Focus Group: Early Career Framework Review
In December 2023 we launced an Early Career Framework Review Research Project. Led by Professor Sam Twiselton OBE in collaboration with TDT, the project will help shape recommendations for a more adaptive and responsive support system for early career teachers. Focus groups will delve into the intricacies of the ECF, exploring potential enhancements and innovations, and lend teacher voices to recommendations for the future.
The Secrets to the Most Effective Teacher
Development
In this practical handbookDavid Weston and Bridget Clay take the guesswork out of professional learning, showing school leaders how they can build a self-improving culture and remove barriers to learning. The authors provide advice for how every school can bring in the best ideas from the whole system, and make sure that these have a lasting effect in the classroom.
Developing Great Teaching
Key finding: carefully designed CPD opportunities that have a strong focus on pupil outcomes have a significant impact on student achievement
With kind support from TES Global, TDT commissioned a review of the international research into what constitutes effective professional development for teachers. It was conducted by an expert team of Professors Steve Higgins and Rob Coe of Durham University, Philippa Cordingley of CUREE and Professor Toby Greany of the UCL Institute of Education
A Culture of Improvement
Key finding: we identify that there are five aspects of teachers’ working conditions that appear most closely associated with increased student attainment
In this working paper, we reviewed 30 papers on teacher working conditions and school leadership in order to explore the impact of teacher working conditions on student attainment. We share four guiding principles for those with responsibility for ensuring school staff have access to impactful, evidence based development opportunities
DfE Standards for Teachers’ Professional Development
Our founding co- CEO chaired the CPD Expert Group that informed the development of DfE standards around teacher CPD
They reviewed existing advice and standards from across the world and different professions. undertaking a large scale consultation with hundreds of individuals and organisations and exploring the highest quality research on what types of professional development seem to make the biggest difference to teachers’ and students’ learning
School Improvement through Professional Development
Key message: “If the teacher makes the weather, the school creates the climate” (Tim Brighouse)
The Wellcome Trust and Teacher Development Trust hosted a virtual summit that convened policy makers, school leaders and system-thinkers from across the UK to discuss School Improvement through Professional Development
Teacher Autonomy
Key finding: teacher agency and autonomy over their professional development is strongly linked with job satisfaction and retention.
A study by the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) in collaboration with the Teacher Development Trust (TDT) exploring how teacher autonomy relates to job satisfaction and retention
Teachers’ Working Environments
Offer to Expert Schools Members: a tool to benchmark your school working environment
We are delighted to be partnering with Dr Sam Sims to offer all TDT Expert Schools the opportunity to be involved in an innovative national research project looking at staff satisfaction, wellbeing and retention to inform your staff development plans
Understanding AI for Schools
Joint guidance on AI for UK school leaders from 5 major organisations
TDT and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) have published a collaborative publication to support the use of AI in schools, endorsed and co-published by the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), and the Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Our Values
Media Partner
TDT published insight articles in SecEd
Read our garticles on Best Practice for CPD, Recruitment & Retention, School Culture, Leadership, Classroom Practice, Behaviour & Classroom Culture and much more
Collaborative Partnerships
Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future
Introducing Climate Wise Schools, a groundbreaking pilot Professional Development Programme for Climate Change Education.
Developed by the Teacher Development Trust (TDT), in collaboration with Leeds Trinity University and CAPE (Climate Adapted Pathways for Education), this programme is set to make a significant impact on spearheading Climate Change Education (CCE) across the country in its initial six month pilot phase – Sept 2023 – March 2024
Innovation: Research into developing AI for tools teacher development
In Sept 2023, we announced an innovation partnership with the Salesforce Foundation to create new tools that use AI to support teacher development. TDT are at the forefront of understanding and sharing insights around how to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to improve teacher development #AITeacherDevelopment
Project: Supporting Teacher Development in Norwich Schools
In the 2023/24 academic year we are using Diagnostic Review, coaching, and collaboration to equip leaders to better support their teachers’ professional development and improve school culture in Norwich.
Using a train the trainer model to build local expertise and capacity. we will share findings of the final evaluation to inform the development of future place based and devolved TDT delivery models
Insights
Through our work with thousands of school leaders, our Expert Schools and NPQ Programmes, our Expert Schools Membership Network and our collaborative partnerships across the sector, a core part of our mission is to share our learning and insights to help build expertise and improve access to effective professional development in as many schools and settings as possible.
Improving Recruitment & Retention
6 evidence-based actions for leaders to support improved recruitment and retention, based on a 2023 EEF research review
The 7 domains of school improvement through people development
Reviewing your CPD through the lens of seven domains focused on school culture and the needs of teaching staff
5 Tips from the NPQ for Leading Literacy
Five stand-out recommendations from TDT’s NPQLL that may support literacy leaders in beginning their leadership journey
School Environment & Leadership
An Interview with Rob Coe by David Weston
Exploring the latest evidence about School Environment and Leadership and its implications for leaders.
Expert Teaching
David Weston – ResearchED, London 2023
What it is, how to get more of it and what that means for school leaders
To find out more about how we can support your school or organisation please get in touch
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Our Impact
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