Helping Staff Develop in Schools - Practical CPD Guide

In this review of Helping Staff Develop in Schools the bottom line is simple: this is a practical, school-focused guide for leaders and coordinators who need usable approaches to Continuing Professional Development. The book's strongest reason to buy is its emphasis on tried and tested strategies and real-world vignettes that show how other schools, colleges and local authorities run staff development. For those seeking research-informed but highly practical guidance on creating a learning-centred culture, this review finds the book consistently hands-on and relevant.

Key Features

• Practical strategies: The book shares tried and tested ideas from other schools that can be adapted quickly into an existing CPD programme.
• Learning-centred focus: Advice on developing a learning-centred culture helps leaders prioritise pupil outcomes while growing staff practice.
• Time management guidance: Clear suggestions for finding time for staff development reduce scheduling barriers in busy school timetables.
• Differentiation in development: Guidance on meeting different staff needs supports tailored approaches for early career and experienced staff alike.
• Impact evaluation: Practical methods for how to evaluate the impact of staff development help schools link CPD to measurable improvement.

Who It's For

The book is best suited to headteachers, professional development leads, and senior leaders in primary and secondary schools who must design and implement CPD that aligns with professional and occupational standards. Its emphasis on case studies and vignettes makes it a useful reference when translating policy into daily practice.

Those who should look elsewhere include readers wanting an academic textbook with extensive theory or those seeking subject-specific teaching techniques; this title focuses on managerial and whole-school development rather than classroom lesson plans.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers practical, replicable strategies drawn from other schools and local authorities.
• Helps leaders create a learning-centred culture that links staff development to pupil outcomes.
• Provides clear approaches to finding time and differentiating development for diverse staff needs.

Cons

• Not a substitute for subject-specific CPD materials as the focus is on whole-school development processes.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Helping Staff Develop in Schools is a compact, practical guide for leaders who need realistic, evidence-informed strategies to improve CPD. It offers good value for any school wanting to make staff development purposeful and measurable, though it is not intended as a subject-level teaching manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include real examples?
Yes, it contains vignettes and case studies drawn from schools, colleges and local authorities to illustrate practical application.

Is this suitable for early career teachers?
It is useful for early career teachers in understanding whole-school CPD approaches, but the book is primarily aimed at leaders planning development.

Will it help measure CPD impact?
Yes, one section specifically addresses how to evaluate the impact of staff development and link it to outcomes.