Blog feedCPD for Supply Teachers Survey: Autumn 2009
October 7th, 2009
Thank you very much to the seventeen local authorities who responded to a request for information about how they managed CPD for supply teachers. Some points to emerge:
- There is a wide variation in practice across the country. Almost all responding LAs offer places on locally organised courses to those teachers on the supply list. There are no instances of teachers being paid to attend these other than those employed in schools on mid to long term contracts
- All of the Councils who responded were continuing to administer supply from within the Council
- Seven of the 17 respondents – about 45% – offer tailored CPD for their supply teachers. In a few cases these are extensive and include network meetings, established Glow Groups etc.
- A small number of the authorities expressed their concern that this was a group whose development needs were not being well met
- One problem seems to be a discrepancy between the number of teachers on the supply list and the number who are “active” – eg available for work. Many respondents suggested that they had a large number of inactive teachers, or those who had very limiting conditions for accepting supply work. In one authority more than 750 secondary teachers were on the supply list but the “core” was about 50.
- The issue of PRD for supply teachers is largely unresolved except for those on long term contracts. This means that there are some issues around their readiness to deliver curricular reform.
The 2006 CPD Team paper CPD for Supply Teachers is still largely relevant and could be updated easily if the network felt that was helpful. There are currently no CPD opportunties for supply teachers on CPDFind. If you have a good programme for returning or supply teachers this might be a good place to find new participants.
The team would be happy to put you in touch with each other if CPD for Supply Teachers is an issue that you want to move forward on, or indeed we would happily convene a working party if you felt that would be helpful.
I am very grateful to colleagues in Stirling who are willing to share a copy of their current comprehensive and high-quality “Temporary Teachers’ Staff Development Programme”, and their LNCT agreement on Supply Teachers. Let us know if you’d like a copy.