Providing effective CPD

Effective CPD activities and opportunities should:

• enable a teacher to develop the professional knowledge and understanding, skills, attributes and values necessary to maintain and enhance his or her skills
• stimulate innovatory thinking and practice
• have flexibility of access
• be delivered in a range of modes to suit different learning styles
• be delivered in a range of formats from self-contained modules to fully accredited programmes
• be delivered by staff with appropriate specialist knowledge
• be delivered by staff who can identify the links between this learning experience and the general work of the educator
• be contextualised to meet the needs of the individual, the school and local and national priorities
• include appropriate support for educators.

Providers may also want to take account of the work of the CPD team in the papers by Margaret Alcorn on essential and developing skills for teachers of excellence.