The future role of the local authority

last updated:March 2009

The main conclusions of the Connect project and the implications for the future role for the local authority have been summarised by Keith Hildrew, school workforce development adviser:

• Schools value their partnership with the LA and the key role it plays in supporting CPD.
• School staff are increasingly unlikely to want to or be permitted to be released for attendance at external courses.
• In-school ‘personalised’ CPD tailored to specific needs will become the prevailing method.
• CPD leaders will continue to play a crucial role in their schools, particularly if the new Performance Management Regulations are introduced with the intended emphasis on CPD as integral to school improvement; they will continue to need support and development for this role.
  

Recommendations

• Some central provision of essential courses is still required and current strengths should be continued and developed further.
• The LA needs to develop ways of facilitating and brokering CPD opportunities designed to meet needs identified by the school or in collaboration with LA personnel.
• A menu should be built up of flexible generic CPD opportunities that could be delivered, adapted or customised to schools’ needs.
• The LA should play an influential role in co-ordinating the sharing of good practice, building on known expertise and facilitating seminar lessons, peer observations, team teaching, the effective use of ASTs, networking and cluster working, professional reflection and accreditation opportunities.
• Opportunities to increase the knowledge in the school workforce of the breadth and variety of CPD available should be sought and promoted.
• Collaborative partnership groups should be established with LA facilitation to monitor LA support for CPD and to commission or suggest new initiatives in response to perceived needs.
• Continued efforts should be made to seek ways of making the termly representative meetings relevant and useful so that attendance becomes essential.
• Observed good practice in the management, leadership and operation of CPD for the whole school workforce should be disseminated regularly across the LA.
• External expertise, partnerships and national perspectives should continue to be developed for the benefit of schools.