Teacher Development & CPD

“Raising the quality of teaching within schools is likely the single most effective method we have for improving student attainment and equity.”

— Great Teaching Toolkit: Evidence Review, Evidence Based Education

Why Teacher Development Matters

Research shows that great teaching has the greatest impact on student achievement, and this is especially true for children facing disadvantage. When teachers are empowered to grow, reflect, and refine their practice, the benefits ripple outwards—

At Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy, we believe that every child deserves the very best education—no matter their background. That’s why we place teacher development at the heart of our mission. We know that the single most effective way to improve outcomes, especially for disadvantaged children, is to invest in our teachers: their knowledge, their expertise, and their passion.

Our Commitment to Professional Growth

We have designed a comprehensive, evidence-based programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) that empowers teachers to continually refine their practice and deepen their expertise.

This extends beyond weekly INSET, which is a combination of develop pedagogical knowledge as well as discipline specific content knowledge.

A. Essential Reading Catalogue

At Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy, we believe that great teaching is grounded in strong subject knowledge and a deep understanding of pedagogy. To support this, every teacher engages with our Essential Reading Catalogue—a curated collection of research-informed texts and resources designed to enhance professional expertise across key domains of teaching and learning.

The catalogue is structured into six thematic strands, each aligned with the principles of effective classroom practice and curriculum delivery:

1. Consolidation: Consolidating Student Learning
   • Focuses on strategies to help pupils retain and deepen understanding over time, including retrieval practice, spaced learning, and metacognitive approaches.
2. Assessment: Assessing Student Performance & Learning
   • Explores formative and summative assessment techniques, feedback strategies, and how assessment informs responsive teaching.
3. Optimisation: Optimising Student Thinking
   • Encourages higher-order thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving, with emphasis on cognitive load theory and scaffolding complex tasks.
4. Curriculum: Communicating and Sequencing Knowledge
   • Supports teachers in designing and delivering coherent, knowledge-rich curricula that build schema and ensure progression.
5. Motivation: Motivating Your Pupils
   • Investigates what drives pupil engagement, effort, and resilience, drawing on behavioural science and classroom culture.
6. Transfer: Making Learning Transferable
   • Focuses on helping pupils apply knowledge and skills in new contexts, promoting flexible thinking and long-term retention.

Purpose and Impact

The catalogue is not simply a reading list—it is a developmental tool. Staff use it to:

• Reflect on their practice
• Engage in professional dialogue
• Inform planning and pedagogy
• Contribute to whole-school improvement

It is integrated into professional conversations, planning sessions, and staff briefings, ensuring that professional learning is continuous, collaborative, and rooted in evidence. By engaging with the Essential Reading Catalogue, our teachers are empowered to make informed decisions in the classroom—ultimately improving outcomes for all pupils.

B. Learning from Excellence: School Visits

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, every teacher and members of our support staff at Holy Trinity Primary Academy undertakes at least one visit to a high-performing school each academic year. These visits are carefully selected to align with individual development goals and school priorities.

The purpose of these visits is to:

• Observe outstanding practice in action across a range of subjects and phases.
• Engage in professional dialogue with colleagues from other settings.
• Reflect on pedagogy, curriculum design, and leadership approaches that drive high performance.
• Bring back actionable insights to enhance teaching and learning within our own classrooms.

These visits are not one-off experiences—they are embedded within our wider CPD programme and followed up through professional conversations, collaborative planning, and shared reflection. They serve as a powerful tool for professional growth and help foster a culture of excellence and openness across our staff team.

C. Subject-Specific Masterclasses: English & Mathematics

At Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy, we believe that subject expertise is central to high-quality teaching. To support this, we deliver weekly Masterclasses in English and Mathematics, designed to deepen pedagogical content knowledge, enhance curriculum delivery, and ensure consistency of practice across all phases.

Each Masterclass consists of a focused 30-minute session, delivered in the afternoon by our 'Subject Experts'.

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English Masterclasses

English Masterclasses are thematically structured each half-term to address key areas of literacy development. Foci include:

• Vocabulary Instruction – strategies for explicit teaching of tiered vocabulary and embedding word knowledge across the curriculum.
• Moderating Writing Effectively – developing consistency and accuracy in assessing pupil writing, with a focus on progression and genre-specific features.
• Creating Modelled Writing Using AI – exploring innovative approaches to modelling writing, including the use of AI tools to support teacher workload and pupil engagement.

These sessions support staff in delivering a coherent, knowledge-rich English curriculum, with a strong emphasis on language development and writing fluency—particularly for disadvantaged pupils who benefit most from structured, high-quality instruction.

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Mathematics Masterclasses

Mathematics Masterclasses follow a similar structure, focusing each half-term on a core mathematical concept. Foci include:

• Place Value – securing foundational understanding and supporting conceptual development through manipulatives and representations.
• Using Manipulatives – embedding concrete resources to support abstract thinking, deepen conceptual understanding, and address misconceptions.
• Fractions – building depth and precision in teaching fractions, including visual models and progression across year groups.

These sessions are designed to enhance subject knowledge of teaching practitioners, promote consistency in mathematical language and reasoning, and equip staff with strategies that give them a better understanding of how children learn (pedagogical knowledge).

Subject Experts: Masterclass Leaders

Daniel Martin is the Headteacher at Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy and a nationally recognised educator with expertise in English, Religious Education and Curriculum Design. He leads the school’s English Masterclasses, focusing on vocabulary instruction, writing moderation, and innovative approaches to modelled writing.

Daniel is a school-based trainer for Talk for Writing, a member of the CREED Committee of Birmingham Diocesan Board (Collective Worship, Religious Education and Ethos Development), and contributes to national education initiatives through his work with:

D. External Training: Religious Education with BEP

We are proud to partner with Birmingham Education Partnership (BEP) to provide specialist-led CPD in Religious Education. BEP’s Religious Education Leadership Development Days and subject networks, are delivered by leaders of Holy Trinity CE Primary Academy, who are leading experts in the field. These sessions focus on:

• Deepening subject knowledge and leadership skills in RE
• Exploring innovative curriculum approaches and the latest Ofsted recommendations
• Building schema and conceptual knowledge from EYFS to Year 6
• Harnessing the multi-disciplinary nature of RE to enrich the wider curriculum

This external training ensures our RE provision is rigorous, current, and fully aligned with both local and national expectations. It also provides colleagues with practical strategies and resources to confidently lead and inspire high-quality RE.

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