Five principles to help you evaluate your CPD

We know that powerful professional learning helps children succeed and teachers thrive. Effective professional learning has a significant impact on student achievement (1) and leading professional development is the school leadership activity that has the largest impact on student outcomes (2).

Not only that, but with pressure on staff recruitment and retention, it becomes increasingly important to have a culture that allows for great development and a supportive environment that can reduce staff turnover, improve morale and reduce stress.

Yet with increasing tightening of school budgets, it is more important than ever to justify all areas of spending. CPD is no exception and has traditionally been a hard area to show impact. As you look back at this year’s CPD and consider next year’s – where do you start with evaluation? Thomas Guskey’s Evaluating Professional Development breaks down evaluation of CPD to five different levels (3) that can help structure your thinking.