May update

National CPD Team

The National CPD Team was founded in 2004 to lead and support the development of world-class CPD and leadership in Scottish Education. The team is led by Margaret Alcorn (National CPD coordinator) ably supported by Con Morris, John Daffurn, Ruth Johnston and Jim Keegans. The work of the team includes:

• Promoting a wide variety of CPD modes, such as action research and coaching techniques.
• Reviewing the PRD (Professional Review and Development) process on behalf of the Scottish Government.
• Leading on leadership at all levels including managing the influential International Leadership Summer School.
• Piloting flexible routes to headship.
• Supporting the work of local authority officers with responsibility for CPD and Leadership.
• Building networks and developing collaborative practice with key CPD stakeholders.
• Inviting international Thought Leaders, such as Richard Elmore, to contribute to CPD matters in Scotland.
• Identifying and developing a range of online techniques to support CPD and PRD through the CPDScotland project.

You can find out more about the work of the CPD Team on the CPDScotland website and the team blog

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Coaching and mentoring techniques

Across Scotland in the last few years there has been a significant increase in interest in the potential of coaching and mentoring for learning and teaching, thanks partly to funding for a series of pilot projects from Scottish Government. Coaching and mentoring strategies are being employed in a diverse range of situations:

• To develop powerful leadership practice.
• To engage young people in their studies.
• To tackle behaviour that is difficult to manage.
• To facilitate collaborative learning.
• To support CPD.
• To help focus school leadership issues.

An extensive review of these pilots is available in the CPDConfer area of the CPD Team site. In particular, you might be interested in the range of case studies that focus on coaching and mentoring in professional development.

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CPDFind

CPDFind is an online database of CPD opportunities. The opportunities are provided by a wide (and growing!) range of CPD providers from the small to the large. Just select a category or type in a key word. Opportunities identified can be added to a wish-list for consideration at review or CPD planning time.

In addition, our development plans should ensure the service is well used by educators and providers all over Scotland. Already 28 of the 32 Scottish local authorities link directly from their own CPD site to CPDFind. See for yourself on the Scottish Borders CPD site.

Please feel free to use CPDFind to extend your range of choice:

• when it comes to identifying your own CPD
• when colleagues come to you looking for CPD
• when planning CPD in your own establishment / local area

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Contact

We would love to hear from anyone involved in educational CPD, so please feel free to email us.