VIEWS & OPINION


Election promises: a CPD entitlement policy from Labour Comment by SAL McKEOWN, journalist and editor


“Five Missions for A Better Britain: Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity” says that ‘Labour will work with schools to deliver a ‘Teacher Training Entitlement’, including backfilling roles, so teachers at every stage of their career can be released for training, and ensuring guidance is available on evidence-based, high-quality professional development. The Teacher Development Trust convened an expert group to consider how such an entitlement could be delivered successfully.


In brief, their recommendations are: • That there should be an independent review of the teachers’ standards for professional development. They are now eight years old and outdated


• The government should continue to fund National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) so all teachers can access them.


• In areas such as mentoring or subject specific CPD, the remaining money should be given to schools to spend at their discretion rather than being ringfenced


• Entitlement should not be defined in terns of hours as this can lead to tick box approaches


• CPD funded by the entitlement should be focussed primarily on the individual needs of the teacher or school leader, not operational or policy issues


• The Chartered College of Teaching should be commissioned and funded by the government to create and maintain a Professional Development Portal for all teachers and school leaders


• There should be guidance so individuals can see different career pathways and how different CPD options can help them meet their own professional aspirations


What teachers want


If implemented, this approach could improve recruitment and retention. Under present arrangements teachers feel disenchanted with the CPD they receive. Senior leaders often see training needs in terms of the School Improvement Plan whereas the individual teacher may have different priorities for their career development.


Research by Teacher Tapp & Gatsby Foundation Report shows that one in ten teachers and two-thirds of heads would choose CPD vouchers over a pay rise. However, 9 out of 10 teachers feel they have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their instructional practice and that the CPD they are offered is often not relevant to their needs. They value informal, and peer-to-peer forms of training. They want autonomy for themselves and for their school, with more than nine out of ten calling for teachers to be given free choice, or for a localised offer where headteachers sign off attendance at any CPD. The TDT’s expert group welcomes the Teacher Training Entitlement with this caveat: ‘In order to create the environment where an entitlement to CPD (alongside other opportunities) can flourish, there has to be time for the sector to adjust and transition.


‘This is why we have proposed a five year plan involving each of our recommendations, that steers policy makers to a realistic and achievable timeframe to establish a professional culture where professional development is supported and perceived as a priority.’ After a generation of knee-jerk policies made without consultation this will be a welcome change.


https://tdtrust.org/2024/02/29/creating-a-cpd-entitlement-that- works-our-findings/


https://tdtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/A-Professional- Expectation_-Improving-access-to-CPD-for-teachers-and-school- leaders-1.pdf


Podcasts and revision: a new approach and some extra time Comment by OONAGH JACQUEST, Executive Producer, BBC Bitesize


Podcasts and revision. A few years ago they would have seemed unlikely bedfellows but with the number of people in the UK listening to podcasts rising annually it’s not such an odd idea. At Bitesize we are always looking for accessible, engaging ways to help young people learn. Podcasts offer a new way to revise, which complement our written guides, videos, games and other resources. We are now celebrating a year of Bitesize GCSE revision podcasts, produced in partnership with BBC Sounds. Biology, English literature and Study Support were


the first to launch last March, and we have now added chemistry and physics for GCSE students preparing for this summer’s exams. Presented by hosts with an authentic link to the subject and scripted by curriculum experts, they give a friendly voice to revision and can be used flexibly. Listened to alongside other revision materials in a traditional study session, they can offer more in-depth explanations of tricky topics. The podcasts are structured to help students learn as well as delivering the content with prompts to pause and recap, tips on how to remember key information and a transcript with every episode. They can also free young people from their desks and offer an extra way to revise that doesn’t rely on reading. Listening to a podcast can happen on the way to school or whilst sitting on the bus, it opens up new pockets of time for revision and opportunities to go over material again, particularly helpful at this time of year.


But it does still need to engage young people, and we’ve worked hard to get this right. A combination of storytelling, music, rhyme and quizzes


April 2024


all aim to keep students listening and learning. The podcasts are short, just 10-minute episodes, and are hosted by dynamic presenters with a passion for the subject ranging from science communicator Dr Alex Lathbridge to poet Hollie McNish and broadcaster Carl Anka. Special guests in our new poetry series include Simon Armitage and Imtiaz Dharker, whose own poems are on the exam specifications.


Each episode is part of a series that covers learning points linked to exam specifications and Bitesize topics. Many series are structured progressively. For example, in biology the first might start with the basics before moving on to more advanced points, and in English literature a series tackles one set text and uses quotes as a focus point for discussion. Student feedback tells us that the podcasts get straight to the point and explain key points in an accessible way, and this makes the information easier to remember.


As well as revision, there is also Study Smart, a podcast which helps listeners to unlock the science of studying, hosted by influencer Ibz Mo. Using his trademark witty style, Ibz shares all the secrets of the studying pros – talking to cognitive scientists and psychologists – to help ensure young people have the skills to make the best use of their revision time, be prepared for exams and understand how to manage their stress and nerves.


The podcasts are a really different way to revise. Whether it’s the hosts talking about why they like a particular poem, or a chat about the history of the atom, young people are listening into conversations packed with essential information carefully structured to provide a valuable learning opportunity.


Podcasts are not the only way to revise, but for this generation of podcast loving young people it’s certainly an appealing offer, whether they’re walking to the shops or kicking a football around at the park. The podcasts are available on both BBC Sounds and BBC Bitesize.


www.education-today.co.uk 27


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