Leading Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

This programme is for schools who recognise that a culture of continuous professional development not only supports the raising of standards across the school, it is also the basis of a happy and healthy school. Leading the development and maintenance of such a culture is both challenging and rewarding; context is important, but the development of a CPD strategy and the embedding of the ways of working that accompany the strategy are paramount. The programme will explore the key components of an effective CPD strategy and examine how they might be applied in the context of individual schools.

Course Leader: Chris Housden

Chris is an experienced CPD Leader and Adviser. He was a teacher for 24 years and a CPD Adviser with Nottinghamshire LA for 12 years. He will work to provide a programme that will balance relevant inputs alongside time for reflection and pragmatic ideas that can be used back in school.

Autumn 2009: Strategic Leadership of CPD in Primary Schools

  • How do we define CPD and who is it for?
  • What are the key strategic components of an effective school CPD process?
  • How would you assess your school’s current CPD strategy?
  • How might you further develop your strategy?
  • London Tues 29th September
  • Birmingham Wed 14th October
  • Leicester Tues 22nd September

Spring 2010: Making the links - CPD, Standards and Performance Management

  • How do you integrate performance management, standards, school and individual professional development needs?
  • What are the implications for you as a leader and for your school as a whole?
  • London Tues 26th January
  • Birmingham Tues 12th January
  • Leicester Tues 19th January

Summer 2010: Developing CPD methods to meet needs and have an impact

  • How wide is the range of approaches used for CPD in your school and how might you broaden it still further?
  • How can schools build their capacity for CPD when faced with limited financial resources?
  • How can you determine the effectiveness of the CPD approaches you take and how can you measure their impact?
  • London Tues 4th May
  • Birmingham Tues 20th April
  • Leicester Tues 27th April


The course content above is indicative of plans for the programme at this stage but may be modified slightly to better meet the needs of participants during the year.

One-off courses: It is possible for additional colleagues from participating schools to attend any course for £100. For schools who are not participating in Upward Trends, day delegate attendance on any single course is available for £150.

Your Upward Trends Tutor. In addition to the 3 courses above, participating schools will receive year-round support from a colleague with experience of supporting school-tailored improvement projects. This support includes a project workbook, recent relevant research resources, personal support through telephone, email, face to face sessions and electronic links to other schools on the programme.
 

Upward Trends, SDSA, Alliance House, 6 Bishop Street, Leicester, LE1 6AF