CPD Team

This recently published report into the English system is of interest as Graham Donladson begins his review into the training of teachers in Scotland.

It is a hefty piece of work;  it reaches a number of interesting conclusions, and makes some pretty radical  recommendations. For example, in terms of CPD, it finds that there is not a strong enough culture of professional development among teachers, and that “the licence to practice” requires a generous and guaranteed entitlement to professional development. The report calls for ring-fencing of minimum levels of spending on CPD by schools, ‘at earliest opportunity’ and describes the need to attend to the ‘neglected needs of supply teachers’.

Read the full report here

As the CPD team scour the various websites for CPDFind providers, we come across many ‘hidden gems’. Here’s a ‘Top Tip’ published by Stephen Heppell on the Support for New Teachers site at LTScotland.

“Take a digital camera. Ask one student per week to capture the 10 best things that happen in school that week. Twirl a projector around each evening to point at a window that can be seen from outside the school. Focus it onto the glass. Run a slide show all night of those images (© credit the student). This top tip is fab in the winter but a waste of time in the summer, but watch the crowds gather…”

If you haven’t visited the Support for New Teachers site, it’s worth a look.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) have announced new guidance on probation supporters http://www.gtcs.org.uk/News/GTCS_launches_new_guidance_on_probation_supporters.asp

They have recently published a leaflet on how to select mentors for probationer teachers. Providing guidance on everything from selection and training to support, the leaflet aims to help key stakeholders select the people who will mentor probationer teachers.

A copy of the complete guidance document is available at:

http://www.gtcs.org.uk/Publications/GuidanceforTeachers/probation_supporter_guidelines.asp