CPD Leader

The pedagogical challenge is on for this KS2 geography teacher

Key Stage 2 teacher Annie Ashraf is challenged to see if she can go from good to outstanding, in this pedagogy and professional development resource. Top inspector Clare Gillies assesses one of Annie's Year 5 geography lessons at Tetherdown Primary School, Walton-on-the-Naze. And Clare's feedback highlights some clear areas for improvement. Annie receives CPD training from primary geography expert Wendy North, and advice from voice and communications expert Ulrika Schulte-Baukloh. Annie then has just three weeks back in the classroom to turn their advice into action before Clare returns to observe a second lesson and deliver her final verdict. Will Annie move from good to outstanding?

Annie Ashraf

A look at the Alberta education model

Discover why Alberta's schools in Canada are the highest performing in the English speaking world. Alberta's education system has been used by Michael Gove as a model of best practice in choice, autonomy and competition. This video looks behind the rhetoric and discovers a highly collaborative network of school heads working with and within the local authority network. Principal, Jean Styles, reveals the key role played by Edmonton district to establish a tightly knit and supportive unit, with monthly meetings for collaborative discussions about curriculum and teaching practice. The choice available to parents is also explored. In some primary schools, two systems operate side by side; a mainstream programme with children working in mixed ability groups and a more traditional Cogito programme, with children sitting in rows with the teacher at the front. One principal states that the success of the choice agenda has had a profound impact on new private schools.

Autonomy, Choice and Competition

How best to deal with tackling a theft and who to punish

A CPD video showing a dramatic reconstruction of a Year 5 teacher's reaction when one of her pupils reports a theft. The video is designed to prompt debate amongst staff on how this issue should best be dealt with. Based on true events, the drama shows how the teacher suspects a girl of the chocolate bar theft, after she has found her behaving suspiciously in the cloakroom during break time. However, without proof, how should she approach the situation? Should she accuse the pupil she suspects? Is she right to punish the entire class until the guilty party admits to the theft?

Behaviour Breakdown - Punishing the Whole Class

A look at the relationship between a teacher and a TA

What should teachers and TAs do if their working relationship breaks down over the management of classroom behaviour? Use this CPD video to discuss what each should do, in this dramatisation of a real life situation. The dramatisation tells the real story of how a TA is verbally abused by a Year 6 pupil after challenging his disruptive behaviour. The class teacher refuses to accept the TA's account of the event and prevents her reporting the incident. Should the teacher be more supportive of his TA? Should the TA take up the matter with the head of year? Is it the teacher's role, not the TA's, to enforce good behaviour in the classroom? The video is designed to be used as a springboard for discussion between staff on how this issue should best be dealt with.

Behaviour Breakdown - Teachers Versus TA

Looking at the inclusive issues surrounding a nativity play

Based on a real account, this CPD video presents the dilemma of whether a primary school should put on a secular pantomime instead of a traditional nativity play, to promote inclusion. This drama recreates a heated argument between primary teachers discussing the annual Christmas nativity play. A classic school quandary designed for you to use to set up discussions with colleagues on what to do when professionals disagree. The headteacher encounters unexpected opposition to the proposal from some staff members and an argument ensues between Christian and atheist teachers. One member of staff storms out of the meeting room. How should the argument have been resolved? The protagonists involved question their behaviour and ask the viewer if and how they could have reacted more positively.

Can Christmas be Inclusive?

Will primary teacher Chloe pass the pedagogical challenge?

In this professional development and pedagogy resource, top school inspector Clare Gillies assesses Chloe Mercado's Year 2 science lesson at Belmont Primary School, setting her on the path to outstanding teaching. Clare's principal feedback on Chloe's medicine lesson is that her lesson plan could challenge pupils with more learning content. Chloe then receives one-to-one CPD advice from voice and communications coach Ulrika Schulte-Baukloh and primary science expert John Stringer. John says she could learn the facts more to tell a clearer story, while Ulrika recommends a slower, smoother and less strained delivery. Chloe has just three weeks back in the classroom to put their advice into action before Clare returns to observe a second lesson and deliver her final verdict. Will Chloe move from good to outstanding?

Chloe Mercado

A headteacher discusses her CPD experiences within a small school

This programme is subtitled. Primary headteacher, Frances Bussy, discusses her experience of CPD with a group of senior professionals. They offer some practical suggestions to follow up. They agree on an open "collaborative" environment, where professional dialogue is key, but staff have to feel comfortable and be willing to participate. Involving all the staff and getting them to think "outside the bubble" makes a huge difference and is also critical for retaining teachers. This is a particular challenge for small schools where staff might feel their careers are limited. Frances is stunned by the perceptive comments made by Year 6 children at their exit interviews and stresses the benefits of listening to children across the school. Giving staff options within the school improvement plan has also been successful. Individual choice gives ownership and encourages professional responsibility. The experts conclude that good professional development can take many forms. See the resources and support materials page for links relating to this programme. You can also find the subtitle document for this programme on the resources and support materials page.

Continuing Professional Development - Primary - Getting the Priorities Right

CPD advisor John Carey asks pupils what makes a good teacher

John Carey, senior adviser with Durham LEA and a specialist in professional development, offers practical CPD advice at Christ Church Primary. He stresses the advantages of school-based CPD and speaks to deputy head, Colette Morris, about the school's policy of encouraging staff to share ideas and collaborate with one another. Staff at the school feel training is essential if they are to progress and develop their skills. John sits in on a peer observation session and demonstrates how children's views can be a rich source of CPD. He asks students for their views on what makes a good teacher. While he stresses the positive aspects of the school's learning culture, he highlights the need for more preparation where staff can get the best out of good ideas like peer observation. For more information on this programme see the resources and support materials page. You can also find the subtitle document for this programme on the resources and support materials page.

Continuing Professional Development - Primary - One School's Experience

A staff visit to a partner school to discover literacy planning

In this programme Hillcross Primary School staff visit a partner school to see how literacy is planned and delivered there, and to look at their special needs base. Hillcross Primary School in the London Borough of Merton enhances the delivery of CPD across the school by sharing the skills and experience of its staff with colleagues in a cluster of other primary schools in the borough. In return for the visit, staff from other schools in the borough visit Hillcross Primary School to find out how they organise the transition from reception to year 1, and the experienced SENCO gives advice to a recently appointed inclusion manager.

Continuing Professional Development - Primary - With a Cluster

Delivering CPD through sharing and enhancing staff skills

This programme shows how Hillcross Primary School delivers CPD across the school by sharing and enhancing the skills of its staff, who learn from each other. Teaching assistants at the school, set in the London Borough of Merton, explore the effectiveness of special needs software, while nursery nurses are trained to take a full part in team teaching in reception. The programme also focuses on some of the informal professional dialogues that take place in the school. A literacy coordinator and a Year 2 teacher analyse their Key Stage 1 SAT results, while an NQT reports back to the headteacher on a monitoring project. The SENCO briefs the deputy head on the training implications of the school's latest PANDA figures.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Roles

> Primary CPD Leader