Benefits to you

Teachers take part in postgraduate professional development (PPD) for many reasons. Sometimes because they want to develop and progress in their careers, sometimes because they want to research something they are interested in that could improve their practice, and sometimes just because they want to perform better in their roles.

As part of the revised performance management planning and review meetings, the new professional standards for teachers will be used to help identify training and development needs of teachers. PPD can help meet these needs.

Taking part in PPD also demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD), which the new standards encourage as part of new professionalism. This states that teachers who have the greatest impact on pupils and are most clearly committed to their own professional development will gain the greatest rewards.

PPD programmes also lead to postgraduate certificates, diplomas, an MA or even a doctorate.

Benefits to your school

PPD programmes give teachers the time and opportunities to develop as reflective practitioners and have a positive impact on classroom performance.

Course providers can tailor their programmes so that the content is negotiated by the school and its staff, allowing teachers to focus their learning in their particular school context – often through action research centred on the workplace. These pieces of independent study are often related to whole school improvement and can be integrated into school development plans and self-evaluation processes. Sometimes, groups of teachers working in the same situation engage in research into an area that is particularly relevant to their school.

Many schools taking part in the programmes have reported improved retention of staff as well as positive changes in staff attitude.

Although it is difficult to quantify improved pupil performance and PPD, many headteachers have experienced surprising improvements.