Yorkshire school leaders urged to invest in developing teachers

David Weston, the founder and chief executive of the Teacher Development Trust told delegates at the first Educated Yorkshire conference that continuing professional development (CPD) should be made a priority despite the financial pressures facing schools.

The former science teacher set up his own charity and is now leading an expert group for professional development standards in schools which will report back to the Government next year,

He told the conference in Bradford yesterday that leaders can use CPD to secure school improvement.

He highlighted past research which demonstrated the link between allowing teachers to develop and improve and the success of the school.

However Mr Weston also warned that too often CPD could either be forgotten about by the teachers who take part in it or not be sufficiently evidence-based or focused on pupils.

He said schools sending staff on courses should have a clear idea of what they aim to achieve and how they can measure whether it has made an impact.

Mr Weston added that a review carried out by the Teacher Development Trust found that the “most successful CPD opportunities were those focused on improving outcomes for pupils”.

He also warned against schools adopting a “one size fits all approach” for different subjects, teachers and students adding: “CPD which provides general advice for all teachers doesn’t seem to have an impact on pupil outcomes unless teachers have time to think about how it can be applied to the subject they teach.”

The audience was also told that Ofsted’s latest inspection framework placed a new emphasis on the importance of schools enabling teachers to improve.

Mr Weston welcomed Ofsted looking to see whether “leaders and governors at a school have created a culture that enables pupils and staff to excel.”

The keynote speech was part of the first Educated Yorkshire conference which took place at Bradford College’s David Hockney building.

It has been organised by Chrissie Slater who already runs a similar event for the manufacturing sector and said she believed there was a need for a conference which would bring together people from across the region’s education sector.

One of the main talking points for the event was ‘Raising Standards in Health’. Guest speakers included Juliane Caillouette Noble, the school programme manager at the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. Another key topic was the skills gaps and how they can be plugged. A session with a panel including representatives from councils, the NHS and the RAF discussed how schools and organisations can work together to create “work ready students”.