Angering school’s top training success

Staff at the school, in Station Road, are celebrating after it was presented with a gold Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Quality Mark award.

The certificate is in recognition of the opportunities the school gives to its staff to excel, and gain further qualifications while at work.

Head teacher David Brixey was pleased with the award.

He said: “We have a fantastic staff and we value them highly. This award recognises the work we do to help them all develop professionally.” The school has a wide-ranging programme of training and development, from its weekly professional studies sessions for teacher trainees and other staff, to promoting higher degrees and other leadership qualifications for more experienced members of staff.

A report released to the school, by assessors, commended it for the pro-active role taken in encouraging staff to hone and improve their skills and qualifications.

The report said: “All staff had opportunities to take externally accredited courses to improve themselves and individual aspirations and needs are taken into account when planning provisions.”

The assessors commented that the school used in-service training days and meetings to consistently share good practice and that all members were encouraged to attend.

Graham Arlidge, former CPD leader at the school, said that its main strength was in its huge pool of expertise, ranging from experienced teachers to highly skilled individual trainers in specific areas like student support, special needs and ICT right across the school.