TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOLS News Release issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 17 October 2008
- New database
launched to promote high quality CPD courses for all school staff -
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is today
launching its first major campaign to tackle the barriers to
effective continuing professional development (CPD) in schools.
Spearheaded by education guru, Tim Brighouse, the campaign
commences with the release of a national CPD database offering
guidance on quality CPD courses.
The online database is the first of its kind in England and will
provide a single source of information to schools on professional
development provision across the country. It will provide
intelligence on the type of CPD offered nationwide enabling the
TDA to see and respond to areas of demand and identify where
provision is in short supply.
Recent findings from a TDA study of CPD leaders1 have underlined
the urgency of supporting schools in changing their approaches to
implementing CPD with a large percentage not taking advantage of
the support available within their own schools, locally and
nationally. 41 per cent of schools never consult with a national
organisation for help and assistance in CPD, 26 per cent never
consult with universities or colleges on courses, and 10 per cent
never network with other schools.
Tim Brighouse, former London Schools Commissioner and teacher
stated: "Of all the professions, school staff deserve and
need the very best CPD. After all what they do in schools
underpins our society's skills and future economic prosperity
- indeed the core values of social justice and political freedoms.
Moreover, CPD provides the intellectual curiosity without which
school staff struggle to unlock our young people's potential.
They deserve access to the very best of CPD. Through this
campaign, the TDA is getting schools out of their current thinking
about CPD to offer authoritative guidance which will help schools
understand what CPD can offer and provide signposts to both its
own and other organisations' resources."
The CPD campaign aims to reform the system by working with
schools, encouraging them to review their CPD strategy, helping
school leaders better understand how CPD helps improve standards
in schools, and urging them to appoint a CPD Leader who can drive
improvements on the ground. The campaign also aims to challenge
the view that CPD is all about courses by showcasing the many
forms that CPD can take, from excellent lesson observation, to
mentoring and networking, and even online self-study.
Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the TDA, commented: "CPD
is as much a part of the school environment as the teachers,
support staff and the pupils themselves. Ofsted recognises that
effective CPD raises standards in schools. What better motivation
for heads to invest in re-energising the hearts and minds of their
staff? The new Masters in Teaching and Learning will lead the way
in demonstrating how effective CPD can result in happier, more
motivated and better-prepared teachers alongside higher-performing students."
As well as the TDA authored standards and guidance for teachers,
HLTAs and support staff, school leaders can access resources to
help unlock the potential of support staff and link CPD outcomes
to the Every Child Matters agenda. CPD Leaders can also benefit
from an e-directory of best practice on CPD across the country.
Further information and guidance on CPD is available by visiting
http://www.tda.gov.uk/cpd and
the CPD database can be accessed by visiting http://www.cpdsearch.tda.gov.uk
- Ends -
General TDA media enquiries
Contact: Alex
Walker-McClimens
Tel: 020 7023 8081
Notes to Editors
* This news release applies to England only.
* Further help and resources the TDA provides to help CPD Leaders include:
- A free on-line directory for CPD leaders which includes
everything they need to do their job effectively: advice,
toolkits, policy guidance and job descriptions.
- Sets of standards for teachers and support staff with guidance
on the professional attributes and skills expected at each career stage.
- The School Improvement Planning Framework (SIPF) - helps
schools to deliver and demonstrate improved standards and
achievement through putting the child at the centre of school
improvement planning.
- The Senior Leadership Team Toolkit - Unlock the Potential of
Your Support Staff - providing a guide on the resources, processes
and thinking, which will help them bring out the best in their
support staff.
- Funding for local authorities to set up CPD leader networks, to
share best practice.
* Case studies are available for interview, including:
- Liz Meadows and Geoff Barton from King Edward VI School. New
schemes include maths teachers taking French lessons to improve
their micro-skills (body language), visits to schools in different
areas, employing a teaching and learning mentor and a whole school
'blink' review to better understand the key ingredients
of good/bad lessons.
- Matthew Gunn at The Mandeville School in Aylesbury. Pupil
performance has improved with a 22 per cent increase in exam
performance. Staff performance is on the up with a 10 per cent
increase in 'outstanding' teacher performance in the
classroom and a whole school increase of 11 per cent of 'good
or better' observed lessons.
* The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) was
established under the Education Act 2005. Its principal aim is to
secure an effective school workforce that improves children's
life chances.
* Continuing professional development (CPD) consists of
reflective activity designed to improve an individual's
attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills. It supports
individual needs and improves professional practice.
1 The research into the role of CPD leadership in schools was
commissioned by the Training and Development Agency for Schools
(TDA) and carried out by the National Foundation for Educational
Research (NFER) surveying around 1,500 CPD Leaders.