Why it's time to review CPD in schools

Developing colleagues in schools and colleges has increasingly come to the forefront as a key element of improving education in schools and colleges. However, it’s often mentioned that there isn’t enough time to develop professionally or that it's SLT's responsibility to develop individuals. Continued Professional Development (CPD) is thought of by some as ‘providing/attending training to develop a skill’, but this is a misconception as effective professional development is so much more than something that is delivered.

CPD comes in a variety of forms, ranging from traditional ‘training days’ to e-learning. However, the overriding purpose remains the same: to help individuals continually improve the quality of their practice.

CPD is the process of effectively recording, reflecting, and applying information and knowledge. The process is not just?tick-box attendance but has substance and impact by helping individuals to continually evaluate and manage their own development through:

• Allowing individuals to keep pace with current educational developments.
• Providing a skills base to easily identify strengths and areas for development
• Providing a platform to enhance an individual's career
• Increasing confidence by reminding colleagues of their achievements?

How CPD is recorded is a personal choice, but whatever method is chosen needs to be an effective solution that is meaningful and helps guide an individual on their improvement journey.

Instead of professional learning being the process of SLT passing on knowledge, professional learning should be viewed as colleagues actively and collaboratively improving their own knowledge, understanding, and skills.

The delivery, participation or attendance of CPD suggests a top-down approach, which fails to empower.?Most colleagues choose to work in schools and colleges for a reason and appealing to that reason will help promote CPD to enable them to be the best they can be.

Those who oversee CPD; the leads, need to acknowledge the key role they are in the process. They need to consider their colleagues' needs, based on evidence and not an assumption. Effective CPD has been shown to increase motivation, confidence, and commitment. The same rigour should be put into the planning of CPD as for teaching and learning in a classroom.??

Create a ‘learning culture’ where everyone openly talks about what they are learning and improving, how it applies to improving outcomes, and where everyone feels genuinely free to take risks and ask for support. Give colleagues time for well-planned and properly structured collaboration, every week, around developing their knowledge and skills.?