The benefits of PPD

The key features of postgraduate professional development (PPD) include:

1. Accreditation: Unlike some continuing professional development (CPD), PPD is accredited. Participation offers you the chance to study, submit assignments and gain masters-level credits that lead to awards including:
   • A postgraduate certificate (PG Cert, 60 credits)
   • A postgraduate diploma (PG Dip, 120 credits)
   • A masters degree (MA, MEd etc., 180 credits)
   • A doctorate (PhD or EdD, 360 credits)
2. Prioritising school-based delivery and school-focused content: Sustained PPD courses are school-based and directly relevant to the participants, pupils, classroom and school. They frequently focus on addressing both individual needs and local priorities.
3. Impact through reflective practice and lifelong learning: Sustained study gives teachers the time and opportunity to develop as reflective practitioners. This, consequently, has a lasting, positive impact on pupil and classroom performance.

Other positive gains of PPD include:

• A better understanding of the overall educational context
• A greater capacity to challenge viewpoints and policy
• A greater recognition of the importance of evidence-based decision making

Raising capabilities and confidence

Many PPD providers are already tailoring their programmes to address specific and local school needs by:

• Allowing the content to be negotiated
• Giving participating teachers the opportunity to focus their learning in their particular school context
• Making teachers' programmes personalised, often through action research centred on the workplace

A number of schools taking part in PPD programmes have also reported improved retention of staff, as well as positive changes in staff attitude and their raised capabilities as a result of participating in the programme.

PPD evaluations have drawn attention to the relationship between accredited school-based professional development and teachers' increased confidence. The TDA's PPD impact evaluation report for the academic year (AY) 2007/08 (PDF, 107KB) noted one teacher reporting that undertaking a PPD programme had "broadened my thinking and given me greater confidence in my ability to innovate".

Read more about the TDA's reports on the PPD scheme, its impact evaluations, and Inset reports.

You may also find it useful to read through our pages on the Science Additional Specialism Programme (SASP), Maths Development Programme for Teachers (MDPT), and early professional development (EPD).