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Continuous Professional Development

Continuous professional development (CPD) provides opportunities for professionals from the education sector to spend time in a business related to their subject area.

A Professional Development Placement is when members of staff, both teachers and support staff, spend time in a company or other organisation as a form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Placements provide an ideal opportunity for education and business to forge valuable links, for mutual benefit. Well planned placements provide education staff with an understanding of how industry and ‘the wider world of work’ operates, whilst informing the business sector about current practices in school and within education in general.

What do teachers gain from going on placement?

• Hands-on preparation for Work-Related Learning and enterprise (now an entitlement for all 14-19 year olds);
• A greater understanding of the world of work and local labour market conditions;
• Enhanced leadership, management and other skills;
• Business knowledge and management techniques applicable to school;
• Subject enrichment.

What do schools and students gain?

Schools can gather Evidence for school inspection frameworks and for Investors in People (IIP) while teachers are better able to raise standards of achievement by:

• Providing realistic career guidance;
• Teaching vocational subjects with greater knowledge and authority;
• Preparing young people for the world of work;
• Applying new management and leadership skills;
• Developing and maintaining partnerships with local businesses.

How do businesses gain?

• Ensuring that employability skills are reflected in the classrooms;
• Young people learn about roles, responsibilities and the law in the workplace;
• Cost-effective staff development opportunity for business employees;
• Raises the profile of the business in the community;
• Creation and development of an ongoing link with a local school – community support.

For further information on Continuing Professional Development, or to get involved, please contact:

Sue Hargreaves

Tel:        01254 584073
E-mail: sue.hargreaves@lebp.co.uk