CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION 

“Every teacher needs to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better” Dylan William

The Continuing Professional Development and Formation provision at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College matches the aims in the Mission Statement, the Whole School Development Plan and our curriculum intentions.  The training and provision is evidence informed and supports teachers in developing teaching quality to support learning and curriculum delivery.

The implementation of strategies will vary by subject; the principles of quality first teaching will be the foundation of the programme delivered.

All staff are expected to be involved in the relevant CPDF; recommendations will be discussed throughout the academic year through: the Performance Management Cycle, Quality Assurance process, Heads of Department Meetings, Department Meetings and during staff teaching meets.  The overarching aim of CPDF is to provide staff with the tools required to deliver the best possible teaching and meet the requirements of the Teaching Standards and our Teaching and Learning Principles.

#1 Sequencing of the curriculum supports long term acquisition of knowledge

#2 Adaptive and responsive teaching ensures all students learn and achieve well (including DP and SEND)

#3 The gateway to wider learning is underpinned through reading, disciplinary literacy and explicit vocabulary instruction

#4 Assessment strategies are used to check what students know and can do

#5 Climate for learning ensures a positive learning environment where students thrive

#6 The Catholic Curriculum is at the heart of the learning experience

 

Both statutory Safeguarding Training, internal CPD and external CPD are logged by staff on the National College website/app.

 

CPDF Principles

 

Aligned

CPD will be aligned with our whole school priorities with a predominant focus on teaching and learning, curriculum and achievement.  At Blessed Thomas Holford, we use Bright-Futures as a provider for National Professional Qualifications

 

Protected

The Teach Meet sessions are compulsory meetings where staff will discuss effective teaching and learning principles to ensure excellent quality of teaching and curriculum delivery.  Each session will allow departments to collaborate and plan key tasks in line with the CPDF focus for the half-term. Middle Leader Meetings and Department Meetings are evidence informed to drive curriculum intentions and support implementation.  INSET days are calendared.  INSET Days will provide time for whole staff and departments to work together on school priorities.

 

Evidence Informed Pedagogy

Teaching and Learning CPD shorts and Teach Meets focus on evidence-informed pedagogical principles to improve the quality of teaching.  Staff are updated with any CPD provision on key areas of teaching and learning that will improve quality of teaching, often in line with Performance Management targets.

 

Sharing Best Practice

Teaching and learning strategies are shared both departmentally at meetings and the whole school via Weekly Briefings.  During our weekly Together for Ten sessions on a Thursday staff share pedagogical principles to aid classroom practice and achievement. Departmental meetings and Head of Department meetings will form part of CPD with allocated time to ensure strategies are reviewed, refined and embedded.

 

Provision

Our CPDF provision will be driven by the School Development Plan.  A whole school focus will drive the Middle Leader training, which will then determine the content of the Teach Meet.  Following the Teach Meet, departments will select strategies to implement across department areas that will be reviewed on curriculum on action days.  Strategies will be reviewed, refined, embedded and impact shared with the departmental team and line manager so best practice can be shared further. To the wider school body and staff.

 

HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY KNOW?

Curriculum intent, implementation and impact is an ever-evolving process.  At Blessed Thomas Holford, our mission is that “achievement is for all” and we will continue to develop our curriculum to ensure pupils and students leave us knowledge rich and ready for the next stage of their education.