The Value of CPD: Reflections on Coaching

By Alice Hall

At WA, we are always encouraged to seek out CPD. This can feel like an extra thing to add to the list but, the reality is, seeking out continuing professional development opportunities can leave us inspired, renewed and able to develop our skillset in a way that directly benefits our job performance and, most importantly, our students. We are lucky to work in a school that encourages staff to undertake regular CPD and are in a fortunate position where it is usually funded for us. EqQuals, a leading provider of educational CPD in the UK, stresses the importance of teachers continuing to add to their own professional development, and states some of the benefits of CPD include: 1. Maintaining and enhancing knowledge and skills to deliver a professional service Through undertaking CPD, teachers can ensure their knowledge and skills are fit for purpose and ensure the best possible outcome for their students. Required knowledge in your subject may change, and regular CPD helps the teacher to stay abreast of changing information. 2. You stay up to date with changing trends Knowledge and required subject information can change over time, and sooner or later your university education may become, in places, outdated! With CPD, your skills and knowledge can stay relevant and up to date. 3. You become more effective in the workplace Higher levels of efficacy have many benefits in a school, including more effective planning and time management of workload, better resources in lessons and better outcomes for students. Through increased knowledge developed in CPD, teachers can become more effective in their role, which can also lead to more opportunities in the future. 4. You stay interested in your profession It’s fair to say WA houses scores of motivated and dedicated teachers. However, over time, it is natural for interest to wane and sometimes work is just that, work. CPD can help to keep us feeling refreshed, renewed, interested and engaged with teaching or our subject specialism. Through focused CPD, new knowledge and skills can be developed, and who doesn’t want to keep it fresh! The more invested you are in your subject, the better your teaching will be. 5. It gives you access to experts in the fields Through investing in continuing professional development, we have the opportunity to build knowledge and connections with experts in education or our subject. CPD at WA Recently, I was fortunate enough to take part in the Anatomy of Coaching course, offered by Jaya and Donna here at WA. Colleagues from both WA and other schools took part, and across the two-day course we learnt a variety of new skills including listening and questioning techniques, how to prompt the coachee to find their own answers and the importance of understanding how we feel about a problem to lead us to a solution. I found some of the activities such as the Start with Heart model, a method that encourages the coachee to move away from the mind-body dualism and connect with their emotions and feelings to be intriguing, and relevant to how we work on a daily basis. The Three M’s of Listening- Me-Listening (the internal thoughts and musings of our brain), Micro-Listening (what is the person in front of me saying) and Macro-Listening (what is the whole picture: verbal and non-verbal communication, gestures, body language) was incredibly insightful when working with both staff and children. Across the two days, we learnt many different techniques to be applied when coaching, either another member of staff or a pupil. The beauty of coaching is that it can be applied in many different situations. At its core, coaching believes the coachee is fully capable of creating the answer and solving the problem at hand. The role of the coach is to help the individual find the means with which to create the solution, and not to create the solution for them. At first, I was a little bit worried about taking the course- it involved me missing two days of work, it meant I missed my Year 11 lesson and it was in the middle of assessment and marking! During the actual CPD course, however, I really enjoyed the opportunity to close my emails, put down my laptop for the day and focus on my own education and development. It is easy to get caught up in the day today, but with CPD we can replenish our own cup and take some time to nurture our own education and training needs. Recommendations There are several opportunities for CPD at WA. Beyond our INSET Days, termly Tuesday CPD sessions and PLCs, why not seek out some CPD? At best, it will revolutionise your teaching practice and at worst, help to build your network of professional contacts and provide a different perspective. If you are considering undertaking some CPD and are unsure where to start, some options include: -See if your exam board offers subject-specific CPD. Many do, and the added bonus is it is tailored to your curriculum needs. -Is there a particular skill you have always wanted to develop? Perhaps your CPD might not be subject-specific and instead revolve around using peer assessment, giving feedback or developing cross-curricular opportunities in the classroom, for example. -Contact Westminster City Council: We are lucky to work in a borough that offers a host of CPD opportunities through regular teacher meets (often a 1-hour meeting once a term). Sometimes the best CPD involves meeting like-minded teachers and simply picking their brains! The WCC/ Tri-borough teacher meets are also an excellent opportunity to build your network of contacts. -Arrange a school visit. Are you stuck on developing a new curriculum or simply want to see how another school does it? Arranging a visit to see an Arts Department at another school, for example, can offer insight into other ways of developing the curriculum. -Sign up for some coaching. Perhaps the CPD you seek is in the form of some professional coaching from a WA colleague. Coaching offers a confidential, guided opportunity to develop your skills in a safe space and time-efficient setting. Finally, if you are interested in CPD but unsure how to go about it, ask! I am always available if anyone wants to discuss further, or else we have the lovely Holly Youlden who coordinates CPD here at WA. Bibliography and Resources:

• Cerri, M and Simpson, Q. The Anatomy Foundational Coaching Course, 8th edition. Graydin, 2020.
• https://www.edquals.com/blog/what-are-the-top-10-benefits-of-cpd/
• https://continuingprofessionaldevelopment.org/why-is-cpd-important/
• https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-for-you/assessment-associates/aa-gateway/training-and-cpd/cpd-for-aas.html
• https://fisd.westminster.gov.uk/kb5/westminster/fis/advice.page?id=SeskgpEo0mM
• https://cpduk.co.uk/news/importance-of-cpd