Whilst programmes such as Future Teaching Scholars can identify and support teaching talent, high-quality teachers take time to develop. This is why CPD for teachers in particular is absolutely essential.
What is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an ongoing process through which teachers access training, resources and support to further inform and develop their classroom practice.
In education, CPD comes in a huge variety of forms and includes both formal and informal CPD: INSET days, observations, mentoring, workshops and webinars, to name a few. Each school generally determines how CPD is defined and administered to its teachers.
CPD as an Early Career Teacher
As an Early Career Teacher (ECT), your core source of CPD will come from the Early Career Framework (ECF): a mandatory two-year induction package which supports your existing skillset with quality, evidence-based practice.
ECTs have their timetable reduced by 10% in their ECT1 year and 5% in their ECT2 year, which allows for a few hours per week to reflect on these CPD learnings. As with anything, the more you can engage with the ECF, the more you will ultimately benefit from it and grow as a teaching professional.
Approaching your CPD requirements
If you do have a particular development requirement that has not yet been addressed by your school, consider the following:
- Check your ECF programme syllabus – it could be the case that your CPD requirement will be covered in an upcoming module in your ECF programme. So take a look at your syllabus to determine what CPD is on the horizon.
- Speak to your mentor/teacher support network – part of the ECF entitlement is access to one-to-one mentoring from an experienced colleague. We’d encourage you to take advantage of these sessions to identify any CPD requirements you have that are specific to you.
- Research CPD resources – if you have already addressed your requirements with your school but have a more immediate need for CPD, try researching which online resources are available to support you. There’s a good chance that another teacher has published something useful!
CPD resources
This list provides a starting point for some additional teacher CPD resources suitable for ECTs. If you have found any CPD that you’ve found particularly useful, please do share it with us by emailing info@futureteachingscholars.com.
Chartered College of Teaching – develop your teaching practice, expand your network and discover evidence-informed research. FTS Scholars can activate their ECT Membership for free!
Scholar-recommended resources list – a list containing websites, books, apps and YouTube channels that our Scholars have found especially useful in their own professional development.
Teacher Tapp – a daily survey app for teachers which provides recommended daily reads and quick CPD upon participation.