CPD Team

Latest News

All local authorities have been invited to nominate two delegates for this year’s Summer School in Edinburgh. Invitations have also gone out to teacher associations, universities, etc.

The closing date for nominations was last week, so if you haven’t heard and know just the very person, let your Director/Head of Service know. Unclaimed places will be allocated to someone on our very long waiting list!

Check out the programme at the Summer School website

This year’s theme is Creativity and Innovation in School Leadership: Realising the Potential of a Curriculum for Excellence. The venue is the same as last year – Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh but the good news is that in order to build on the success of the summer schools held in 2007 and 2008 and to highlight the importance of educational leadership, the Scottish Government has decided to waive the attendance fee and meet the costs centrally for all participants

The invitations have now been sent to Directors (2 places per authority) and other agencies. If you want to be considered for one of the places, or if you know someone who would appreciate this opportunity, then now’s the time to put your hand up.

It’s shaping up to be a great week with some interesting and challenging speakers. You can see some of them on the website, or you can read about last year’s summer school and see the presentations.

As most teachers in Scotland go back to school today, I have been reflecting on how some teachers give up sizeable portions of their summer holiday for CPD. I noticed the number who enthusiastically gave of their time to come to the Leadership Summer School. It continued with one of my workshops this week but the dedication of 2 Edinburgh school leaders takes some beating!

Sheila Laing, Headteacher of Forthview spent much of July visiting Hle Bee school in Thailand July 2008 for the second time and Mary Gillespie, Headteacher of Pirniehall, from a neighbouring school in Pilton, Edinburgh also travelled to link with a Mae Sot Burmese school. You can check out their blogs on www.pirniehall.blogspot.com and http://forthview.blogspot.com/

If you have any experiences of summer CPD (inspiring or indifferent) please leave us a comment.