Avoid common pitfalls and make your next training session truly impactful
Whole-school CPD is a big investment — not just in money, but in time, trust and energy. Yet too often, school leaders tell us the results fall flat. Staff return to lessons with no lasting changes, INSET days blur into one another, and the promised impact never quite materialises.
So how can you plan CPD that truly sticks — training that your team remembers, values, and actually uses?
Let’s take a closer look.
The Problem with Most CPD
For many schools, CPD is a tick-box exercise. Not because leaders don’t care — but because they’re stretched for time, squeezed by budgets, and juggling countless competing priorities.
Here are some of the most common issues we hear about:
- It’s too generic.
The training doesn’t feel relevant to each staff member’s role or context. - It’s a one-off.
A single INSET session with no follow-up, no time for reflection, and no next step. - There’s no clear impact.
It’s hard to measure what’s changed, and staff aren’t sure what they were meant to take away. - It’s top-down.
CPD is delivered to staff rather than shaped with them. - It doesn’t match school priorities.
Sessions might be interesting — but not aligned with what the school is actually trying to improve.
The result? Training fatigue. And a growing sense that CPD isn’t worth the time it takes.
What Effective CPD Looks Like
If we flip the script, what does great CPD look like?
- It’s relevant and role-specific.
Teachers, TAs, pastoral staff and SLT all get something useful for their work. - It builds over time.
Great CPD doesn’t try to do everything at once — it gives staff space to digest, reflect and return. - It’s practical and actionable.
Not just theory or abstract ideas, but strategies staff can use straight away. - It’s collaborative.
Staff are active participants, not passive recipients — sharing experiences, challenges and solutions. - It connects to the bigger picture.
Training is clearly linked to school improvement plans, performance priorities, or pupil needs.
These features aren’t optional — they’re essential if CPD is going to lead to real change.
5 Questions to Ask Before You Book Your Next CPD
To make sure your next training day hits the mark, try asking:
- Will this be relevant for all the people attending — or just some?
- Is there a way to build in follow-up, coaching or reflection — even informally?
- Does this connect to the work we’re already doing as a school?
- Will staff walk away with something they can use tomorrow?
- Are we choosing this CPD because it’s what we need — not just what’s available or popular?
It’s these kinds of thoughtful questions that shift CPD from compliance to real development.
A Better Way Forward
If you’re looking for a CPD offer that puts these principles into action, our new in-house CPD sessions are designed to help.
Each session:
- Is tailored to whole-school teams — with follow-up options and extension modules built in
- Covers high-impact topics like adaptive teaching, de-escalation, metacognition, reading culture and more
- Can be delivered in-person or online, at a time that works for your team
- Is backed by our library of 500+ CPD courses and trusted by over 200,000 educators
If you’re planning your September INSET, get in touch — we’d love to help you make it count.