Continuing Professional Development

The CPD programme at Harris Academy Purley aims to be highly personalised to the needs of each individual member of staff from teachers to classroom support and from technicians to the premises team. 

Too often CPD sessions are delivered to staff in a conference format where it is assumed that ‘one size fits all’. In reality we know that this is not optimal for providing staff with the skills that they need to improve their practice and have the most impact possible on student progress and outcomes. 

Our comprehensive, rigorous and individualised CPD programme, working with our ITE partners, aims to address this.

 

Faculty & Department Meetings

Faculty and Department meetings are scheduled for each week and should include a CPD slot. Department focussed training occurs within subjects and is overs-seen by Directors of Learning, Lead Practitioners and Subject Leaders.

Department focussed CPD emerges out of each subject’s Self Evaluation Document and Department Development Plan, but typically could include:

• Past paper analysis
• Online webinar courses from exam boards
• Subject knowledge master-classes
• Subject specific pedagogy – for example practical training in Science

 

DEC / MEC

Replacing Cluster CPD Development Excellent in the Classroom [DEC] and Mastering Excellence in the Classroom [MEC] are short courses – typically over 3 sessions - allowing staff to build a deeper knowledge and skill base in an area self-identified as an area for improvement. 

DEC/MECs will combine sessions with learning walks and project work. They are differentiated in the following way:

• DECs are aimed at staff members who are looking to move to outstanding practice in their chosen area, typically Recently Qualified Teachers and those looking to go from Good to Outstanding. 
• MECs are aimed at staff members who already have very strong practice in their chosen topic area and are looking to build deep and wider understanding. 

 

ITE

All Initial Teacher Education – whether Schools direct, Teach First or PGCE is run by our Lead Practitioners and are overseen by the Assistant Principal responsible for professional mentoring. Training is provided on a weekly basis in concert with our external partners. 

A detailed mentor programme is delivered by subject mentors on a weekly basis with a minimum of one lesson observation per week. 

 

NQT

Induction training sessions are run bi-weekly, supported by weekly mentoring sessions and bi-weekly observations. 

 

OTT and other non-QTS instructors

Harris Academy Purley actively supports overseas trained colleagues and others to acquire Qualified Teacher Status.

 

‘Boost’ - Improving Teacher Programme

Standards and expectations of staff are high at Harris Academy Purley. Teachers who are not meeting required standards of teaching through MER [Monitoring, Evaluation and Review] process will receive expert coaching, typically with an LP, or Middle leader to support them returning to an excellent standard. Details are within the Performance management section above.