CPD Team

sheilasmithJanuary 18th, 2009

The National CPD Team has convened a Group to consider the developing role of the School CPD Coordinator and how we can support this role.

Members

Aims/Remit

to conduct an enquiry to gain an understanding of how schools lead and manage CPD/professional learning
to identify and highlight interesting practice in schools and LAs
to develop and disseminate support materials

Rationale

New philosophical understanding of CPD – “it is not just about courses” – importance of collaborative learning, developing capacity, developing leadership, creating a learning culture
Decentralising processes from LA coordination and delivery to school as key context for professional learning
Changing responsibilities and accountabilities mean changing roles of LA CPD Manager and School CPD Coordinator
Although the leadership and management of CPD can be widely distributed in schools there is a perceived need to focus in on the role of School CPD Coordinator
Budgetary pressures mean expensive out of school opportunities are limited
Development and training issues for those who have a lead responsibility to develop people
QA: Issues of equality of opportunity, consistency, access, appropriacy, quality and impact

Key questions

How do LA CPD Managers work with schools in terms of strategy, communication, consultation, meeting structures?
How do schools assume responsibility for supporting professional learning?
How does this translate into roles and responsibilities?
Does capacity exist or need to be developed to perform these roles?
How do School CPD Coordinators perceive their role?
How do they work through and with others to achieve their aims?
What does a good CPD school look like?
How do schools establish supportive learning cultures and rich learning contexts?
Do schools plan strategically for professional learning?
How do schools maximise the potential of the PRD process?
Where are schools on the spectrum from dependency to individual ownership of professional learning?

Outputs

Online “Paper” consisting of rationale for development of CPD function in school plus spotlights on practice
Criteria/features of a “good” CPD School/rich learning context/learning organisation?
Development materials for LAs/schools to be available online
Seminar at Scottish Learning Festival, Sept 2009 (see Abstract)

Timescale for the initial work of the group is over the period January to September 2009

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