CPD Opportunities
In a role that focuses on the development of others, it can be easy to forget your ongoing development. We have curated a set of opportunities appropriate for Trust leaders in this role. For further details, see below:
The Chartered College of teaching
The Chartered College of Teaching is the professional body for teachers and teaching assistants, with a mission to raise the status of the teaching profession, and bridge the gap between research and practice.
Members receive access to termly print copies of the Chartered College’s journal ‘Impact’, access to an extensive research and evidence database, events and webinars, and certified CPD courses including their 'Certificate in Evidence-Informed Practice'.
Through group membership, and/or supporting staff towards Chartered Status, an accredited professional learning pathway, trusts have access to a powerful mechanism for teacher development and school improvement, with formal recognition from the body holding the Royal Charter for the teaching profession.
For information about Chartered College of Teaching group membership and achieving Institutional Member Status as a trust, you can contact their Associate Director of Partnerships, Jonny Goggs, at partnerships@chartered.college.
MEMBERSHIP OF the confederation of school trusts
The Confederation of School Trusts (CST) is the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England advocating for, connecting and supporting executive and governance leaders.
They are a membership organisation of organisations. This means that the organisation – the trust – is the member.
They are proud to support and represent 70% of the academy sector in England. With members who are responsible for the education of more than three million young people and children.
CST is shaping the education policy agenda for school trusts. Bringing together trusts in England from every region and of every size, CST has a strong, strategic presence with access to government and policy makers to drive real change for education on the big issues that matter most.
The CST has a thriving online community of School Development Leads, which it would be a great idea to join. Alongside really helpful email briefings linked to policy and key changes in the education landscape, this is a really important organisation who provide brilliant support for colleagues in our roles and beyond.
There are a range of CPD opportunities offered, including high-quality conferences, robust and thorough online courses and more. Read more about the CST and their offer, here: About CST (cstuk.org.uk)
The TEACHER DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Founded by teachers in 2012, the Teacher Development Trust (TDT) is the national charity for effective professional development in schools and colleges. With support from CUREE, TES Global and Durham University, they have led the way in commissioning and publishing guidance around effective CPD, including the Developing Great Teaching report in 2015, which underpinned the development of the Department of Education (England)’s and the Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development in 2016. The development of this Standard was led by an Expert group Chaired by our CEO, David Weston.
The work of the TDT is underpinned by the key principles of effective teacher professional development and learning. Using a strong international evidence base of what constitutes successful teacher professional development, they are working with the entire education sector to promote the principles of good CPD by:
Stimulating demand for high quality CPD through the TDT Network, our partnership of schools & colleges supporting world class, evidence-informed professional learning;
Providing training (including professional accreditation) and bespoke support to schools engaging in collaborative teacher enquiry models;
Publicising and disseminating research, and campaigning to raise the status of professional development;
Encouraging providers to attain high standards and shaping a quality assurance (QA) system for teacher development across England through our Wellcome commissioned project alongside Chartered College of Teaching and Sheffield Insititute of Education.
The TDT qualification in CPD Leadership: A 8-month intensive course designed to nurture future school and national champions of professional development. Further information is available here:
Cohort-10-Flyer-update-23-1.pdfMEMBERSHIP OF Forum strategy
Established as a membership organisation for trust CEOs, Forum Strategy has grown over recent years to also extend to specific networks for those who work closely with CEOs.
Benefits include: access to large networks of your peers; access to the latest developments from within education and beyond through regular briefing; a huge range of timely, relevant online resources (including articles, podcasts and videos); and some of the high-quality in-person and online events.
Beyond the membership offer, Forum Strategy also offers a number of other services – including executive coaching and mentoring; strategy consultancy; and other valuable opportunities to work with sector leaders and thinkers on key areas of interest for trusts and boards.
Their 'Being the CEO' course has gained real traction online and is well-worth looking at.
There is some useful information here regarding system leadership in the current climate: System Leadership | Forum Strategy