Success of project to improve teaching in classroom
A PILOT project aimed at supporting teachers to be more effective in the classroom has been hailed a success.
Two-thirds of teachers taking part in the Sheffield Hallam University-led initiative said the project had helped improve their delivery of lessons and behaviour-management techniques.
Commissioned by the research charity, Wellcome, the threeyear pilot study, which started in September 2018, is running in 40 schools across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire – including primary, secondary and special schools in the region.
An interim report has just been published and as well as showing an increase in confidence and leadership skills, almost 60 per cent of teachers taking part in the scheme said pupil attainment had also improved as a result.
Dr Emily Perry, who is leading the project for Sheffield Hallam, said: “In England there is currently no requirement for teachers to participate in career professional development (CPD), despite evidence of its significant benefits.
“This training meets the needs of the individual teacher and is predominantly focused on subject-specific development. The key thing is that it is high-quality training.
“During the first half of the project, we have noticed the significant impact it is having in schools and the interim results speak for themselves.
“Ultimately, we see this helping to influence policy to ensure teachers nationally have access to high-quality professional development, which will benefit them as practitioners and the children they teach.”
Each school taking part in the CPD Challenge had to commit to every teacher participating in at least 35 hours of targeted sessions each year.
On average, the amount of career development work undertaken by teachers increased from 39 to 52 hours per year, with the time spent on subject-specific CPD increasing from 22 to 31 hours.
The project runs until July next year and a full report will be published after it is completed.