With a view of allowing every child to be challenged and given every opportunity to flourish and grow spiritually, academically and socially within a Christian environment, the college champions pedagogical practices that are considered as the best bets to facilitate successful student learning. These are founded on evidence informed strategies, and are reviewed and developed alongside developments in educational research and cognitive science over time. These are displayed in a central document which forms the basis of “Teaching and Learning at St Bede’s” to support staff in making robust mental models in all areas of pedagogy which they can then transfer into their daily practice. This supports delivery of the staff CDP curriculum and the student metacognition programme.

Staff CPD offers one of the most effective ways to improve student performance, increase staff retention and develop a culture of excellence across the whole college. At St Bede’s we want to help teachers at all levels of experience continually improve the quality of their teaching, which in turn will support our college aims. At St Bede’s we will develop a CPD curriculum that addresses the development needs of individuals, departments and the wider college, whilst maximising the strengths of colleagues and enable all teachers to meet the challenge of teaching in the 21st century

At St Bede’s, our CPD curriculum is:

• Evidence-informed – Using the latest and most important research to date and closely linked to the St Bede’s Way, St Bede’s teaching and learning charter, and St Bede’s Pastoral Vision
• Practical – Supporting colleagues to apply teacher learning to their classroom practice and faculty and college targets
• Enjoyable – We will aim to keep the CPD curriculum relevant and where possible personalised and context specific
• Linked to Priority Development Areas – We will ensure that content of the CPD curriculum is linked to whole college and faculty improvement plans
• Teacher Load within sessions – facilitators will consider teacher cognitive load, focusing on manageable concepts within sessions

Teachers are assigned to either a Teaching and Pastoral curriculum or Leadership curriculum that they will follow throughout the academic year.

The CPD curriculum is continually reviewed to meet the needs of the college priorities and the needs of individuals.

Beyond the internal CPD curriculum, opportunities will be sought to allow colleagues to engage in external professional development activities, for example, but not limited to Masters qualifications, NPQs, ECT and Mentor training.