Professional development portfolios

last updated:March 2009

A Devon school has put together a range of resources, including the following framework for a CPD portfolio.

Professional development portfolios take many forms and no matter what format they take it is essential they are both manageable and purposeful, otherwise they join the rest of the documents on the top shelf which have no obvious practical use.

With the use of IT, an ‘e-based’ system would offer the best degree of flexibility particularly if based within a memory stick alongside a folder which can contain hard copies such as certificates, photos, documents etc.

The content of the Portfolio needs to include:

• job description
• outline of particular areas of responsibility
• performance Management Targets and review
• performance Management Matrix
• lesson Observations
• record of CPD
  

The record of CPD should include:

• list of inset, dates and title
• any research such as TLA or Masters
• curricular innovation
• new resources etc
• annual pay review.
  

Optional extras include:

• photographs
• video clips
• CEDP and induction.

What is the value of a Professional development portfolio?

As much as anything it shows your personal commitment to your professionalism and simply keeps all that this entails in a purposeful document.

In addition, it:

• keeps an ongoing record of CPD
• allows easy access to an evidence base to support Performance Management
• is transferable
• shows commitment to your own personal development
• shows commitment to the profession
• aids career prospects by indicating the above two points
• can be used to support other teachers, by sharing the key elements of professional learning, and enabling ‘Threshold’ transition to be smooth and strongly evidence based.
  

Professional development is the responsibility of the individual, whilst the school is the facilitator of the personalisation of  identified needs. Keeping a Portfolio is an easy way of managing and maintaining the high profile of your responsibility, development and career progression.

Other resources

The same school has created the following tools, which you can download from this page:

• a self evaluation matrix to evaluate your professional development in relation to the professional standards.
• a diagrammatic view of a holistic approach to CPD.