Professional development of teaching staff

Professional development placements can help give school and college staff important insights into industry and provide them with opportunities to learn new skills and expand their knowledge. Such placements are becoming increasingly important to secondary school teachers, due to the Government's decision to promote vocational subjects and qualifications, for example the new Diploma (where teaching must be relevant to the world of work).

Professional development placements usually offer teachers a flexible and customisable programme of activities.

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) holds regular one-day teacher-support workshops in various workplaces, to help teachers gain experience in sector-relevant working environments and:

  • gain an understanding of current working practices and technology as well as a wider knowledge of the sector/organisation
  • develop practical ideas on how to apply Diploma learning using the workplace as a learning environment
  • develop opportunities to apply work-related learning to the Diploma, and embed it in the delivery of lessons
  • create an exciting and inspiring programme for students
  • consider ways in which the workplace can support the development of principle learning and other components of the Diploma.

These workshops enable teachers to co-construct materials based on Diploma units and develop strategies for engaging with the sectors related to their Diploma line.

Employers can help by offering to hold such workshops in their workplaces.