Effective Teacher Development: Theory and Practice in Professional

In this review of Effective Teacher Development: Theory and Practice in Professional Learning, readers will find a grounded guide for designing school-led continuing professional development. The book is aimed at school leaders, CPD coordinators and teacher-trainers who need research-informed methods rather than guesswork. Its single biggest strength is the sustained link between evidence and practical steps, including insights from a 10-year international longitudinal study, which helps readers move from intuition to a systematic approach to professional learning.

Key Features

• Evidence-based foundation: Draws on recent research and a 10-year international longitudinal study to justify approaches to continuing professional development.
• Whole life cycle focus: Explains how to set up, run and evaluate a CPD programme so leaders can manage every stage with intention.
• Practical decision making: Encourages moving beyond gut feeling to strategic choices that align CPD to school priorities and contexts.
• Applicable across systems: Offers guidance relevant to single schools, partner schools, federations and school chains so it suits varied organizational structures.
• Research-meets-practice tone: Balances theory and application so classroom leaders and researchers can find useful, actionable material.

Who It's For

The book is best for headteachers, professional development leads and experienced teachers responsible for designing school CPD who want a stronger evidence base for decisions. Those running multi-school programmes or working across federations will appreciate the attention to programme life cycles and evaluation.

It is less suited to someone seeking quick lesson plans or classroom activities for immediate reuse, or to novice teachers wanting only micro-teaching tips; the emphasis is on programme design and evaluation rather than day-to-day lesson content.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong grounding in research provides a credible basis for long-term CPD planning.
• Clear coverage of the full CPD life cycle helps institutions move from setup to evaluation.
• Relevant for multiple configurations, including federations and school chains.

Cons

• Not a quick-reference manual for classroom activities, so users seeking immediate lesson resources may need supplementary materials.

Specifications

Title	Effective Teacher Development: Theory and Practice in Professional Learning
Author	Bob Burstow
Focus	Continuing professional development (CPD) theory and practice
Scope	Whole life cycle of a CPD programme from setup to evaluation
Evidence base	Includes a 10-year international longitudinal study and recent research
Intended audience	School leaders, CPD coordinators and teacher-trainers

Our Verdict

Effective Teacher Development is a thoughtful, research-informed resource for those designing and running school CPD programmes. It offers clear guidance on the life cycle of professional learning and practical ways to align programmes with school priorities, making it good value for leaders who want to replace guesswork with systematic decision making.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include empirical research?
Yes. The text explicitly draws on recent research and a 10-year international longitudinal study to support its recommendations.

Is it aimed at individual teachers or school leaders?
The primary audience is school leaders and CPD coordinators, though experienced teachers involved in programme design will find it useful.

Will it provide ready-to-use lesson plans?
No. The focus is on programme design, evaluation and strategy rather than ready-made classroom lesson materials.