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An EPD programme from Brighton and Hove

This case study will help you to think ahead to your professional development next year.

The study looks at a professional development programme for teachers in their second and third years of teaching. It was devised by school CPD coordinators, on behalf of the Brighton and Hove local authority. It complements school based programmes and offers opportunities for teachers to develop their leadership skills.

How does the programme support professional development?

It builds on knowledge, skills and achievement gained during induction.
It provides continued support for professional learning.
It provides opportunities to share experiences and good practice with peers and more experienced practitioners within and across schools.
It offers opportunities to develop partnerships with learning communities across schools.
It provides evidence of professional development that can be used to gain recognition from the GTC or accreditation through a local university.

What areas of professional development benefit teachers in their second and third years?

The Brighton and Hove programme develops leadership skills to support and prepare teachers for future roles and responsibilities. Leadership skills are developed through five themes:

teaching and learning: effective observation, giving effective feedback, looking at Ofsted criteria of what makes a good teacher
developing subject knowledge: leading learning in a department and how to manage this, furthering subject knowledge using ICT
student support: looking at provision for inclusion in a department, school and local authority
leading and managing: understanding and managing school self evaluation, opportunities to interview senior leaders, developing a vision for a department and school and investigating strategies to make it happen
tutorials: reflecting on progress throughout the programme with opportunities to gain recognition through the GTC or accreditation through a local university.

What do teachers who took part in the programme say about it?

Andrew Edwards from Hangleton Junior School says:

“I decided to take part in the programme because I thought it would be a valuable way of improving my practice and the practice of others, as well as meeting other teachers at the same stage of their careers. I've enjoyed sharing ideas with other teachers across the authority. I've gained some good ideas and realised that I'm doing a lot of good things already.

“Some of the strategies used have had a positive effect on my teaching, giving me more confidence in my daily practice and particularly in how I provide feedback to colleagues following lesson observations.

“The EPD programme is a great way to continue my professional development following on from my NQT year. I firmly believe that it has equipped me with additional tools that I will need to take my career to the next level.

“Teaching is not just about teaching but about management too and this is something that the EPD programme addresses well. Oh, and the workload is very reasonable. No reason to be put off!”

What can you learn from this case study?

Reflect on your progress and interests in school and consider the following.

Find out what is on offer

Ask your induction tutor, induction manager or CPD coordinator if there are similar programmes available in your school.
Find out about opportunities offered by your local authority or by other schools.
Contact your local higher education institutions to find out more about their professional development programmes.

Structure your own programme

Reflect on your strengths; identify areas for development and areas of interest.
Do this with support from your induction manager or line manager. You could discuss this during a review meeting.
Use ideas from the programme above to structure your own programme. Talk to your colleagues and ask for useful contacts.

Get in touch with the coordinators of the Early Professional Development Programme in Brighton and Hove

Reading this case study gives you direct access to new contacts and support. Email your questions to Engage and we will forward them to Hayley, Annette and Helen who took part in developing the programme. They will get back to you with their advice.

Hayley Hill is an assistant head teacher and CPD leader at Dorothy Stringer School.

Annette Beard is an advanced skills teacher responsible for initial teacher training at Patcham High School.

Helen Horsley is an assistant head teacher and CPD coordinator at Varndean School.

Email: engage@gtce.org.uk


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