Schoot supports The Valley, a recently judged Outstanding school

Key Outcomes

• Flexible online access to CPD and training develops teachers’ subject knowledge and practice
• Focused training to prepare staff for career progression
• Nurturing and upskilling staff improves retention and pupil outcomes
• Individual professional development linked to overall school-improvement priorities
• Online CPD planner to manage access to courses throughout the academic year

Background

Against the backdrop of the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, headteachers are increasingly keen to hang on to good staff.

At The Valley Community Primary School (VCS) in Bolton, headteacher Kevan Naughton believes continuing professional development (CPD) is fundamental to staff retention – and delivering better pupil outcomes.

The school is a large urban primary where the majority of pupils speak English as an additional language. “Having teachers who know our school and understand our families means that we can achieve the best possible outcomes for our pupils,” he says.

“I appoint and promote from within if I can. Teachers see that there are professional opportunities here in our school so they don’t tend to look elsewhere.

“We have a lot of teachers who’ve been here a long time.”

Kevan uses Schoot to provide online CPD and training opportunities to develop and enhance the skills of staff members and prepare them for career progression.

What is Schoot and how does VCS use it?

Schoot is an online platform offering a range of high-quality, flexible-access courses for school staff, covering everything from statutory training to subject-specific CPD and preparation for Ofsted inspections.

Developed by experienced senior leaders, teachers and school business managers, the online courses target the skills and knowledge school staff need to do their jobs effectively.

At VCS, Kevan decides on his school-improvement focus for any given year, and then selects Schoot training sessions that directly relate to these priorities. “Because there’s such a huge variety of courses to choose from, we’re able to find sessions that specifically match our school improvement goals,” he says.

Whole-school improvement

If reading fluency is a focus, all teaching staff can refresh their knowledge of phonics or access a course on encouraging pupils to read for pleasure.

“We will signpost staff to specific courses to build their knowledge and skills in literacy, but many teachers actively search for CPD that meets the school’s needs,” says Kevan.

“Because the training is online, it can be scheduled during INSET time or teachers can complete it as and when they choose. They can then bring what they’ve learnt to staff discussions and put the training into practice in the classroom.

“We can quickly see the positive impact by examining how phonics is taught in Reception and Year 1, observing lessons and listening to readers.”

Enhancing teaching and learning

Staff are encouraged to find courses to support their own professional goals too, including subject and curriculum focused CPD.

“There’s a broad range of deep dive training our teachers have access to, including in key areas such as maths and science, but also subjects such as art. The courses help teachers to reflect on and enhance their own teaching and learning which benefits their career advancement and their pupils’ progress.

“We want our staff to continue to develop and so we provide release time away from the working day for them to do the training.”

Supporting career progression

Like many schools, VCS is dealing with a greater number of pupils with additional needs and the Schoot platform has helped upskill the team.

“When one of our higher-level teaching assistants stepped up to manage a team of TAs supporting pupils with additional needs, they completed training on conducting appraisals as part of the role. This gave them the knowledge and skills to help their team better support pupils.

“Giving people access to on-demand training opportunities before they step up into a new role or are promoted increases their confidence in their own ability to take on new responsibilities,” says Kevan. “If there is a gap in training or experience, Schoot helps us to address it.”

Peak times and pinch points

The CPD Planner within Schoot enables VCS to schedule whole-school or departmental training sessions outside of busy periods across the academic year.

“If you’re just firing training at people when they’re busy, all you’re going to do is alienate them. You’ll get poor buy-in at best,” says Kevan. “We can see clearly when there is bandwidth in the school calendar for CPD, which for us is often during the spring term, so we can schedule sessions accordingly.

“Schoot helps our school to retain and develop good staff and deliver the best possible outcomes for pupils. The quality of education we deliver at The Valley was recognised by Ofsted in our most recent inspection, where the school was graded as ‘Outstanding’ for the second time.”

“Teachers see that there are professional opportunities here in our school so they don’t tend to look elsewhere.”

“Giving people access to on-demand training opportunities before they step up into a new role or are promoted increases their confidence in their own ability to take on new responsibilities.”

“Schoot helps our school to retain and develop good staff and deliver the best possible outcomes for pupils.”

Kevan Naughton, The Valley headteacher