Over the course of my career, there have been key moments that have transformed my practice, and positively impacted the pupils I’ve worked with.
Effective professional development opportunities have been central to these moments. Significant sessions where I have deepened my mathematical subject knowledge, had the chance to delve into high-quality research evidence and been part of a social support network with other maths leaders – all with the same aim – to improve maths teaching and learning.
These vital professional development opportunities have made me into the teacher that I am today. For that, I am thankful. And what excites me is that I have more to learn and more effective professional development moments to be a part of.
Schools can help break the stubborn link between socio-economic disadvantage and attainment by supporting vulnerable pupils to achieve their full potential. We know that high quality teaching is our most powerful lever, and effective professional development offers a crucial tool to develop teaching quality.
Invest for Success
When it comes to deciding how to spend pupil premium funding, considering a tiered approach to Pupil Premium spending can help schools balance approaches to improving teaching, targeted academic support, and wider strategies.
Spending on developing high quality teaching may include investment in professional development, training and support for early career teachers, along with recruitment and retention.
Ensuring an effective teacher is in front of every class, and that every teacher is supported to keep improving, is the key ingredient of a successful school and should rightly be a top priority for pupil premium spending.
Effective Professional Development
The EEF’s Effective Professional Development Guidance Report can support school leaders to maximise the impact of their professional development plans.
On reading the guidance report, it is clear that mechanisms are the core building blocks of professional development. The mechanisms that make up effective PD can be split into four groups, each of which fulfils a different role:
- Build Knowledge
- Motivate Staff
- Develop teaching techniques
- Embed Practice
Together, these four groups of mechanisms form the balanced approach to professional development design.
With effective professional development can come great maths teaching. With great maths teaching can come confident, knowledgeable, motivated young mathematicians.
To find out more about effective PD, watch this short animation on developing a balanced design to your PD offer.