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One CPD idea that works: Make the most of your meeting time

January 2007

No time to plan collaboratively? Fed up with the meetings after school that don't seem to go anywhere? Take the advice of David Jackson and make them learning times:

'We recruited a volunteer enquirer to investigate how meetings were spent, and to find out when staff felt most enthused by having to be together after a long day in school.'

The answer? Meetings in which time was given to sharing what worked for different individual students and groups of students, when the focus was on learning, both adult and pupil.

'We agreed to pilot this approach as school policy, with any necessary admin or information being circulated by email, notice board, bulletin or (recycled) paper.

'The person who had undertaken the enquiry was then happy to continue in the role, with it being extended to monitor the continued use of meetings. Agendas had to be submitted beforehand and if they didn't fit the brief then they had to change. This applied to all teachers and all meetings, the head and whole staff meetings included.

'Ideas that came from these sessions were pulled together and published, so all staff had a chance to learn from each other."

The results?

More motivated teachers who saw a purpose in meeting and a chance to work collaboratively, sharing workloads
Better results in class and a sense of shared learning
The appointment of two CPD co-ordinators. One was for all external learning - courses, visits, links with universities and other schools, etc. The other was for all internal learning - 'meetings', enquiry work, work groups, study teams, etc.

For further information email david.jackson7@gmail.com.

How this has worked in another school

Graeme Plunkett, deputy head of Bodmin College:

'We turned our staff meetings into 'learning forums', led by different members of staff, to address different aspects of the school improvement plan. It's great CPD for all, especially the facilitator of the forum, who could as easily be an NQT as an experienced teacher. The results of the different groups are collated into booklets for all to benefit."

For further information email graeme.plunkett@bodmincollege.cornwall.sch.uk.

One idea that's worked for you

Our thanks to those people who have sent in ideas for future mailings. If you have an idea that might help or inspire others, please email connect@gtce.org.uk


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