Staff motivation - Teaching Expertise

Motivating individual staff to share their professional and personal development is a key factor in school improvement. This CPD Week offers ways in which individual staff can be helped to nurture their intrinsic motivation and offers a useful checklist for future reference

The demands of the SENCO role should not outweigh its attractiveness, warns a nasen-funded study. Sue Pearson reports on her research

Being a headteacher is “fantastic and rewarding” says secondary headteacher Kim Sparling, who dismisses the notion that the top leadership role in schools is losing its appeal for many in her profession

In celebration of our 100th issue, here are CPD Week’s 100 top tips for professional learning leaders, gathered from our issues to date. We have themed them for ease of use, so dip into them right now or keep them as a reference for the future. Either way, we hope they ease your load and contribute to your expertise!

CPD Week looks at opportunities to support school staff holistically, through effective structures for professional development

Roger Smith considers ways in which headteachers can help their staff make the most of their careers read more

Deputy headteacher David Morley examines how best to provide feedback, how to prepare for it and how to train others to do it read more

Teaching abroad is no longer seen as a sideways move that could harm career progression. Steve Caulfield of the Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpar, describes some of the opportunities

Headteacher Neil Berry explains how Brampton Manor in East London – described by Ofsted in December 1999 as having ‘serious weaknesses’ – was turned into the fully inclusive, successful school it is today

What affect did the New Relationship with Schools (NRwS) have on schools and school improvement? Headteacher Trevor Bailey takes a critical look at its impact

Scotland’s Standard for Chartered Teacher has gained international recognition for a programme that has led to a transformation in CPD. Rosa Murray, professional officer (CPD) at the General Teaching Council for Scotland, describes its origins and its effect. read more

Working to meet the standards laid down by Investors in People (IIP) is an effective way of raising standards and improving staff morale, argues former head Roger Smith. read more

The vocational nature of teaching has been eroded by successive government initiatives and we need to take action to preserve it, says Alex Alexandrou, chair of the International Professional Development Asscociation. read more

Lisa Crosswood describes the benefits of a modular Masters degree in Education. read more

You left the meeting with a sense of excitement about all those excellent ideas. Yes, some of them are really unusual, and they could work! They’d make a difference. Optimism exists! Three months later… nothing. Did the meeting really happen? Why isn’t anyone talking about it? What happened? Rob Sheffield’s final article in a series of 3 looks at the final stage of problem-solving. How can we implement ideas for change so they gain acceptance from others and improve our lives at work? 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

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

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…

The teaching profession needs to hang on to more of its bright newly qualified teachers (NQTs), as well as to ensure that all staff remain motivated and committed to their careers. Headteacher Anne Clarke outlines how it’s done. read more

Rina Barkol shows the importance of mentoring for women’s careers through her case study of Nira, an Israeli principal, who inspired a dozen teachers to become independent principals. read more

Teacher absences can cause financial difficulties. There is no easy solution to the problem of supply cover costs, but more effective management can reduce negative impacts. Ruth Bradbury shares her advice