As we begin to embed our new 3-year people strategy across the Trust, we continue our long-held commitment to the development and career journey for all our employees.

Our Centre for Professional Development runs a suite of exciting courses and workshops that provide rich and varied opportunities for further personal and professional development for our colleagues across all levels, in all roles across our Trust.

This comprehensive and innovative programme has been created in response to the development needs across the Trust and has been compiled by our professional development leads, listening to our staff.

Our sessions are facilitated by experienced leaders from the schools within our Trust, further enriched by regional and nationally recognised specialists – both in education and other professional areas including subject association leads, Lead Ofsted inspectors plus external consultants who work with the DFE and within other professional bodies.

Courses take place at our newly designed ‘Teaching School Hub’ (within the Centre for Professional Development) on the site of Brooke Weston Academy or at the ‘Primary Training Hub’ based in Oakley Vale Primary School. Our venues are tailor-made training spaces, providing a professional learning environment for delegates to maximise their experience.

This year, we have expanded our training offer for colleagues with a new section, 'Professionalising the Professionals' which ensures that our non-teaching colleagues have access to relevant and appropriate training for their roles. This new section will support with ensuring we are fully engaged in both statutory compliance and reflect best practice across our professional functions. We are passionate about developing our colleagues as leaders and managers and this new offering will give colleagues access to excellent guidance and training.

 

Dr Andrew Campbell, CEO of the Brooke Weston Trust, explains his vision for the Centre for Professional Development:

“I want all staff to feel supported to work brilliantly - as a whole school team and in smaller teams across their school and/or the Trust.”

“I want to encourage and celebrate our staff exercising their skilled judgement in the best interests of the children in their care, so I will never insist on a ‘one size fits all’ approach, even though we often do (and should) have lots in common.”

The CPD programme is led by senior leaders within BWT: Jane MacDonald, Rachel Lawrence-Byron, Charlotte Hawker-Smith and Gemma Marks.

 

Charlotte Hawker-Smith, Director of Professional Development shares her perspective:

"Through our Professional Development offer, we aim to build expertise in teaching and leadership so that we grow a shared understanding of what excellence in our classrooms looks like for the students in our schools.  The bespoke and tailored approach to school development means that leaders are supported to contextualise research in the ways that best suit their contexts, for the benefit of their students."

 

Jane MacDonald, Director of the Primary Training Hub tells us more about the courses on offer and who can benefit…

“The Centre for Professional Development provides a wide range of professional development opportunities - for staff with diverse roles across the Trust, as well as for staff at differing career stages” explains Jane.

The offering is extensive, with over 80 courses running in the Spring and Summer Terms.

Just some of the CPD course titles throughout 23/24:

• Supporting children on the Autistic Spectrum
• Developing questioning and feedback to deepen thinking
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Online Safety Lead Training
• What does a good science lesson look like?

 

Please view the full CPD course brochure to see which courses are suitable for your role and development level (whether you are primary or secondary, support or teaching staff).

 

Some recent feedback from attendees:

• “Purposeful and high-quality training.”
• “The Primary Training Hub has been amazing this year and delivered lots of courses which has had an impact on staff’s pedagogy, teaching and learning. Thank you!”
• “Valuable time given for discussion with colleagues.”
• “The facilitator was knowledgeable and easy to listen to – making the training fun and very worthwhile.”
• “Amazing and informative training. I loved it. Thank you!”

 

For more information about the BWT Centre for Professional Development and to find the content of our courses, please visit: BWT CPD (genial.ly)