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According to the DfE’s Standards for Teachers’ Professional Development, teacher CPD should: 

• Have a focus on improving and evaluating student outcomes 

• Be underpinned by robust evidence and expertise 

• Include collaboration and expert challenge 

• Sustained over time 

• Prioritised by school leadership 

Ultimately, the DfE requires that teachers keep their knowledge and skills up to date. This means that you are required to objectively assess your abilities as a teacher and identify training that would bridge gaps, improve areas of weakness or contribute to career progression.  

There is no set outline or specific teacher CPD requirements, duration or methods for schools to adopt. Instead, schools are left to determine what qualifies as CPD and how to implement it themselves. Some schools choose to do this at department level, whilst others may have a dedicated CPD coordinator overseeing professional development. 

Teaching methods and best practices are continually developing, meaning that teachers must be continually developing. CPD gives you the opportunity to learn new methods, skills and techniques, as well as keeping up with best practices. This ensures that you have the right tools to deliver quality teaching and support students where they need it.  

Teacher CPD also provides opportunities for career enhancement, allowing you to gain the additional knowledge and skills to progress. Additionally, across an entire school, CPD can have an incredibly positive effect on teaching standards, student outcomes and overall job satisfaction.