At River Tees Hospital School we believe high-quality CPD is the backbone of excellent provision for our most vulnerable pupils. Our staff work with children who have complex physical and mental health needs; to meet those needs we invest in sustained, relevant and practice-focused professional development that strengthens classroom teaching, therapeutic support and whole-school systems.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
What CPD looks like at Hospital School
- Bespoke and role‑specific: training is tailored to roles and to pupil need, for example, relational behaviour and de‑escalation, trauma‑aware practice, physical intervention where required, therapeutic approaches (Thrive) and adaptive curriculum strategies for pupils with disrupted education.
- Curriculum‑aligned: CPD links directly to our curriculum priorities and to the assessment approach so staff can implement new approaches into immediate classroom use.
- Evidence informed and practice driven: staff are invited take part in short workshops, coached practice, peer observations and modelling sessions. New ideas are trialled in classrooms with time protected for planning, reflection and feedback so that learning is embedded rather than one‑off.
- Supported pathways: staff have clear development routes, from induction and early career support through to middle‑leadership and senior leadership development, including access to national programmes and trust‑wide training opportunities.
- Collaborative and sustainable: we use internal expertise across River Tees Multi‑Academy Trust, shared CPD days, and external specialists. Training is sequenced so knowledge builds term‑by‑term and across the year.
How we make CPD happen (what you will see)
- Protected time each term for team coaching and subject/therapeutic action learning sets.
- A CPD calander for every member of staff linked to pupil outcomes and whole‑school priorities.
- Cross‑setting moderation and planning with Trust Leads and partners to support assessment consistency and stretch curriculum thinking at each Key Stage and alternative pathways.
- Access to specialist training for staff working with physical health needs and complex mental health presentations, including bespoke in‑house refreshers and externally accredited courses.
How we record and track development
- Professional Development is logged within our staff HR system where training, impact notes and next steps are recorded so learning is visible and cumulative.
- Termly review of CPD impact: leaders check how training changed classroom practice and track resulting pupil engagement, attendance and progress measures.
- Clear links to appraisal and career conversations so development is purposeful and recognised.
How we celebrate learning and success
- Daily staff briefing and termly Trust newsletter highlight examples of CPD in action.
- CPD showcase sessions during whole school team meetings where staff present “what worked” in 10 minutes: strategies, evidence and pupil impact.
- Career progression and role development: successful completion of accredited courses and demonstrable impact on pupil outcomes are prioritised in promotion and secondment decisions across the Trust.
- Visible recognition: certificates, team celebration time, and a dedicated CPD display in staff areas showing recent courses and achievements.
Why this matters for our pupils
Focused, well‑designed CPD ensures staff are confident to remove barriers to learning, adapt the curriculum and provide trauma‑sensitive, nurturing environments. When staff learn and share effectively, pupils get consistent, evidence‑informed support that helps them re‑engage, make academic progress and build resilience.