Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Churchill Academy & Sixth Form is committed to supporting staff in their ongoing professional development. We expect staff to review their personal training and identify their training needs at the start of each academic year, and encourage them to refer to their performance development review targets. Ongoing discussions with line managers and/or PDR reviewers should also take place.

We offer a comprehensive programme to promote and enable continuing professional development for all staff, and work closely with the Lighthouse Schools Partnership to deliver a wide range of opportunities.

Teaching and Learning at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form

Teaching and Learning at Churchill is focused on our Pedagogy Framework.

Internal CPD Provision

There are six INSET days in the academic year; each of these will have a theme allocated to them. Confirmation of the INSET days and the themes are available on our internal CPD website. Some of the INSET days are combined with the Lighthouse Schools Partnership.

CPD Programme

The CPD Programme in the Academy changes yearly and is linked to the School Development Plan and Priorities.

For example the 2024-25 programme has included the following:

Whole day training on Online Safety and Priority Learners
Self-supporting study for personal development - based on reading / listening / watching relevant educational books etc. that will be used to improve an aspect of individual practice.
‘How to..’ Sessions - short 30 minute training sessions linked to a particular priority in the academy. This year the training has been focused on working with ADHD students, social time behaviour, parental communication, assessment and scaled scores, reading and T&L.

Staff who are keen to gain experience of leadership have access to NPQs as well as the Aspiring Middle Leadership and Growing Leaders courses with the LSP. Internally, staff can apply for internships on the SLT, MLT, BLT and in Student Services.

PGCE Programme

This programme is led by Joanne Gill, Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning. This ensures that all student teachers at the Academy are fully inducted and have a weekly meeting slot to discuss key topics such as safeguarding, behaviour, teaching and learning, assessment, pastoral care, data etc.

New Staff Induction Programme

All new staff follow an induction programme that ensures they have an understanding of the Academy’s values, expectations, policies and how the Academy is run. This includes safeguarding training

ECT - Early Career Teachers

All ECTs follow an externally provided programme that is run over two years and provided by the FCTSHA. There are six assessment points during the two years to check on progress and review targets. All ECTs have access to an ECT mentor. The internal ECT programme is run by the ECT Lead, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning.

Support staff have their own induction programme linked to the six month probationary period.

Middle Leadership Team (MLT)

Heads of Faculty and Heads of House jointly lead the planning of additional CPD opportunities provided within Faculty meeting time, and some Twilight sessions regarding pedagogy and the sharing of good practice.

We work closely with the Lighthouse Schools Partnership.and use the Five Counties Teaching School Hubs Alliance when opportunities arise.