Education articles - Teaching Expertise

September can be a scary time of year if you are a newly qualified teacher (NQT) who is facing your own class, sometimes for the first time ever. This article suggests 5 simple ways to impact upon your new class

Leslie Spencer takes us on her learning journey, inspiring learners to love learning. Are you prepared to have your preconceptions, philosophies and pedagogy challenged? A teacher’s tale of the ‘Opening Minds’ curriculum. read more

Looking for the root cause of many boys’ underachievement and subsequently the simple answer or ‘Quick Fix’, has become something of a preoccupation over the past few years. Here, School Improvement Officer Gary Wilson explains why he believes that neither of these particular tasks can ever bear fruit read more

Sometimes, regardless of how much effort we put into planning, stimulating and rewarding, we will still come across the pupil who is determined to disrupt at all costs. In this instance, conflict is probably unavoidable and will have to be confronted. read more

Great activities for helping a new class or tutor group to get to know each other

Andy Bowman explores strategies to begin to develop independence and resourcefulness in young learners. read more

How can we re-ignite the flames of inspiration in our teams and ourselves, and, while we achieve great things, get the chance to live a little too? Lynne Copp looks at the challenge

Garry Burnett explains how different types of question can improve thinking skills read more

Music can be used as themain activity in the classroom todeliver subject content, as it is motivating and inspiring. Here are some practical ideas from Sarah Todd, an AST at Stanchester School near Yeovil. read more

Teachers tell of going to the Ukraine for a Teachers’ International Professional Development and a unique education experience. read more

Cliff Jones analyses the new draft guidelines for performance management. read more

How can all the different initiatives, programmes and requirements be linked up to support the professional learning of your colleagues? Cliff Jones takes a look at some of the components. read more

The role of self-review is gaining in importance. Cliff Jones considers why teachers need to look at their own practice and presents a useful tool for critical professional learning. read more

Bailey’s Court Primary School set out to explore accelerated learning back in 2002. Here, class teacher and Learning Manager Andrew Bowman explains why and how they began their journey towards a more learning-centred ethos. read more

The Training and Development Agency (TDA) is inviting applications for funds to support postgraduate professional development (PPD) programmes. read more

Since the Training and Development Agency (TDA) acquired responsibility for CPD it has been systematically setting about finding out how continuing professional development in schools can operate in order to take forward government policy. read more

Alison Fox looks at the social constructivist underpinnings of CSP and explains how she put the theory into practice in her postgraduate work with teachers in Scotland. read more

Many children have their lives rigidly planned out for them at home, at school and in leisure activities. They drift along waiting to be taken to venues and attend activities pre-structured for them. Others have a complete lack of any organisation in their lives and events appear to them to happen at random – if at all! How can we develop their ability to think creatively and to begin to take some control over their lives? read more

CPD Update has often pointed out that the further implementation of changes to 14-19 education will create demand for professional learning. We have also made the point, reflected in the recent legislation, that, in order to respond effectively to these changes, schools, together and separately, will have to work with FE colleges. This means collaborative professional learning across a number of boundaries. read more

The title of this resource bank might mislead leaders of CPD into thinking that there is little in it for them. This would be a mistake. Although it is focused upon teacher education it is also a treasure trove for anybody interested professional learning. read more

Recording your learning experiences can provide fresh insights. Kelly Christey of Westlands School, Sittingbourne, describes the initial problems and subsequent benefits of keeping such a journal and her tutor, Kit Field of Canterbury Christ Church University, explains why his students on the MA in Leadership and Management for Learning are asked to keep them

Many teachers who have gone through the Critical Skills Programme (CSP) have declared it has changed the way they teach forever. Why does the programme raise such enthusiasm? Colin Weatherley, manager of CSP in Scotland, looks at its development and explains its strengths. read more

Rob Sheffield examines three techniques to help your school staff team explore problem solving

Children today are now more likely to be consuming and digesting slices of aerobic exercises with a healthy pinch of brain gym workouts sandwiched between lessons

Going back to teaching after a lengthy period can be quite daunting, especially if there is a new member of your family needing your undivided attention. Here are some tips to make life easier. read more

How can school leaders and managers create an environment in which highly effective work can take place at all levels and all times? Former deputy head John Jackson suggests an approach. read more

Richard Jenkin and Alan Tucker present accounts of the impact of postgraduate professional development (PPD) on learning and teaching gathered from schools across Cornwall. read more

We have all experienced periods at work where things are very stressful and we cannot seem to get anything done, or other people and situations are making work difficult for us. Rushing around all day, not managing to complete anything or deal effectively with issues is a common problem. We sometimes need to take time out just to regain some element of control. read more

A recent review of the impact of networks of at least three schools has found evidence that networks can be ‘an effective vehicle for improving teaching, learning and attainment’. read more

The Teacher Support Network called for a coordinated approach to improving teacher wellbeing as it launched a report stating the importance of linking up the disparate services that tackle teacher stress

‘If the child is not learning the way you are teaching, then teach in the way the child learns.’ Rita Dunn read more

Kit Field, the chair of the CPD Committee of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) looks at the revised national standards from the point of view of CPD. read more

Last month we reported the establishment of chartered science teacher status, a new professional qualification for science education professionals developed by the Association for Science Education (ASE). read more

The Critical Advisory Support Partnership for CPD (CASP) was formally launched at a meeting attended by representatives of three key stakeholder associations on 10 May

Jim Christophers and Chris Bryan of the college of St Mark and St John examine the problems of assessing impact and present a model that takes account of the individual and the wider community. read more

Jonathon Fletcher, an assistant head at Isleworth and Syon school, looks at staff attitudes to Teachers’ TV and ways of using this resource for CPD. read more

“During a simple 10 minute walk, it is amazing how ideas can be generated, solutions explored and areas discussed openly, effectively and with a great use of time that invigorates the body and mind”. read more

Barrie Smale and Andrew Gibbons discuss the skills required of an effective mentor. As a developmental process, mentoring is a powerful and cost effective way of helping people to learn. read more

We look at a CPD plan that links professional development to a system of accreditation. read more

Once you get set in your ways, your creativity is curtailed.How do you become more flexible? Michael Maynard offers some suggestions… read more

Back pain is very common – a survey published in 2000 showed that almost half the adult population suffered from low back pain lasting more that 24 hours at sometime during the year

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a reputation for organising and running meetings that were engaging, fun, productive, and used the talents of the people in your team? Maybe you do already…

As you embark on a mentoring programme in your school, have you considered defining a clear approach to mentoring relationships? The following model of the mentoring process may help you to put all the elements for a successful programme together. read more

New qualifications for support staff in schools are now being piloted, bringing with them increasing responsibilities for CPD leaders. read more

As teachers with a new class, we tend to get a good idea pretty quickly about which students are going to do well in our classes, which ones are going to struggle, and which ones are not even going to try. read more

Accelerated learning tips. read more

The Association for Science Education (ASE), in collaboration with the Science Council, offers a professional qualification for science education professionals. read more

Cliff Jones looks at some useful tools for professional development on the channel’s website. read more

Sadly, the number of children with back pain is increasing. In recent years, growing interest has spurred studies that support this worrying trend. Tessa Hicks explains how teachers can help protect their pupils from unnecessary pain. read more

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) delivered its revised draft of the professional standards for classroom teachers to the secretary of state for education on 7 April, following extensive consultation. read more