The National CPD Team are proud to help present another CPD opportunity with a difference – CPD Question Time.
Four leading educators will come together to face the Scottish educational public. The whole event will be streamed live. There will be a +glow enhancement, of course!
Bruce Robertson was a Director of Education and Leisure Services from 1998- 2010, having worked in Highland then Aberdeenshire Councils. He was previously a Head of Education in Aberdeenshire Council and Depute Director of Education for Grampian Regional Council.
Bruce has 36 years’ experience in education at school, local authority and national levels. After graduating from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (Hons) degree in History, he completed a post-graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at Aberdeen College of Education. He taught in various schools in the former Grampian Region for 17 years, including a four-year spell in The Gordon Schools, Huntly, where he was Depute Rector.
Bruce has served on various national committees, was an Adviser to the McCrone Committee on Teachers’ Pay and Conditions of Service, was a COSLA Education Adviser, and is a part-President of the Association of Directors of Education of Scotland (ADES). Amongst various national roles, he has recently completed chairing a National Outdoor Learning Policy group. He is also Chairman of the Scottish Advisory Committee for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Very recently, Bruce accepted a year long, Scottish Government funded ADES commission aimed at reviewing the current national system in difficult financial times, as well as increasing the capacity of the association.
In 2006 he was awarded an OBE for services to education.
Anne McGhee is an associate of the National CPD Team who has worked on many of our online CPD projects including CPDFind and facilitating the CPDStepin professional community for supply teachers.
Anne is a CPD consultant, coach and trainer in the field of personal and professional development.
You don’t have to share 5 items, just one will do. Why is it called I-share? Because we ask you to share an intention, an issue, an idea, an insight or an item of interesting practice, all beginning with ‘I’.
Professional Review & Development and associated CPD is very topical and is currently a focus of discussion between the National CPD Team and the CPD Network. The team is also exploring the implications for PRD and CPD within the context of distributed leadership. This month’s article offers a perspective on the relationship between the two and one approach which is being trialled by the team to explore the impact of distributed leadership in establishing and sustaining a community of practice. .
If CfE in all its aspirations is to be successfully embedded into practice there is a clear need for all colleagues to be aware of their role and responsibilities and how a staff team complements each other to ensure that children and young people benefit holistically from the skills and experience which determine the quality of the learning experience.
In terms of distributed leadership there is a danger that it is a phrase which can be easily used but not necessarily understood in the same way by colleagues. If it is to be an influence to the good , colleagues must have a shared understanding and commitment to a culture which sees it as empowering staff rather than as a means of delegating unpalatable tasks. It can only operate effectively in a climate of trust and respect. Colleagues who are active in leadership roles focus their contribution on the development of practice which relates to the needs of the pupils in their particular school. Their contribution should be recognised as professional development in the colleague’s own CPD profile and also as a contribution to the professional development of others. This in turn provides a focus for PRD discussions and related ongoing CPD activity. The challenge in schools where children and young people are also accessing support from partner agencies is complex – where does the balance of distributed leadership lie ? What are the mutual benefits ?
The National CPD Team in collaboration with Kersland special school in Renfrewshire is exploring these themes in relation to defining a community of practice which recognises and values the impact of distributed leadership. The collaboration will also consider a model for PRD and CPD to support the approach . The National CPD team recognises that in a climate of inclusion these questions are also highly pertinent in a mainstream setting and will be engaging with colleagues to consider the related PRD and CPD implications.
As ever we would be delighted to hear from you : either in terms of the perspective which has been outlined or any approaches being undertaken in your school or authority.
I have worked in a wide range of roles in education, starting as a Geography teacher and becoming, in turn, a Guidance Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher and then Guidance Adviser for the former Strathclyde Region. In 1996 I entered the Directorate in West Dunbartonshire Council, eventually leaving as Director of Education and Cultural Services in 1996.
Since then I have undertaken a variety of consultancy assignments, working with various councils, including a spell as Interim Head of Education with Stirling Council. I have also worked in International Education on the SCIPD Programme and have facilitated visits to study school leadership in Ontario. I am currently the course co-ordinator for the SCSSA In-Service Programme and have joined the National CPD Team on a part time basis.
My interests include all aspects of CPD and specifically capacity building and leadership development. My role at present is to lead on the Team’s initiative that will support authorities in enhancing the Professional Review and Development process for staff in schools and developing the linkages between PRD, teachers’ (and others’) CPD and outcomes for children in the classroom.
Of course, being the National CPD Team, we will not use any of your personal details for anything other than keeping you informed about free, high-quality CPD and PRD.
The National CPD Team in Scotland provide strategic support for CPD and PRD throughout Scottish Education. If you need a word, email Ruth on ruth.johnston@educationscotland.gov.uk
You can find out more about the work of the team by browsing this blog and viewing this short video, which explains what we do, where we started and what are our vision, values and beliefs around CPD. Please feel free to share it.
What is our aim?
The National CPD Team aims to improve pupil learning by building capacity to implement Curriculum for Excellence at individual, school and authority level.
How do we achieve our aim?
by promoting a consistent model of professional learning which draws on a wide range of academic research, and reflects the values implicit in Teaching Scotland’s Future
by supporting the development of structures for CPD that focus on improving the quality of teaching and of school leadership
by working with our partners (through the CPD Network ) to a maintain a high profile for CPD among educators
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The National CPD Team are proud to help present another CPD opportunity with a difference – CPD Question Time.
