Our CPD offer

Effective continuing professional development (CPD) is at the heart of our work to engage, develop and retain talented staff within the trust central team and schools in each of our regions. It is a core part of securing effective outcomes for our children. It cannot exist in isolation, rather it requires a pervasive culture of scholarship with a shared commitment for support one another and to develop, so that pupils benefit from the highest quality or support, teaching and care. The thousands of professional decisions that must be made every day need to be informed by the best evidence, knowledge, skill and professional wisdom.

Our CPD offer operates at many levels from school-based CPD, to regional CPD opportunities to national and trust-wider CPD courses, training and events. And in some cases, we are also able to offer these opportunities to other non-OAT schools and trusts.

It is our ambition to ensure the CPD offer/package captures the needs of all career stages and levels, and one that continually adapts to ever-changing needs.

Investing in you

At Ormiston Rivers Academy, we offer a highly supportive, welcoming and friendly working environment where well-being is a priority. We have a whole team approach and you can expect a genuinely supportive Senior Leadership Team that will positively encourage internal promotion and invest in your growth.

In addition, you can expect:

  • A full induction programme
  • A dedicated member of staff as a personal mentor
  • Line management with coaching support
  • Apprenticeship training for support staff
  • Opportunities to teach across all key stages, including sixth form
  • Personally tailored, bespoke CPD pathways
  • Staff CPD library and opportunities to work across the trust
  • Opportunities to undertake specific leadership programmes; eg: NPQH, NPQSL, NPQML

Further information about our CPD programme with views from our staff can be found on the following chart:

Career Progression Routes

Our offer: A genuine investment in our staff with bespoke CPD opportunities for all; a minimum of 5 professional development days per year

  • Timetables designed around university commitments
  • Reduced timetable weighting
  • Personal Mentor
  • 3 days of subject specific training off site
  • Reduced timetable to support ECT programme and weekly training sessions. Wealth of resources for independent study and skills development
  • Personal Mentor
  • Whole school project to develop pedagogy and research skills
  • Reduced timetable to support ECT programme and weekly training sessions. Wealth of resources for independent study and skills development.
  • Personal Mentor
  • Opportunities to develop links and share practice with other schools and networks
  • Twice half termly CPD leadership sessions
  • Personalised career plan
  • Ambition Institute: School Leaders programme
  • Coaching programme
  • Bespoke weekly forum for Lead Teachers to action and drive school improvement
  • Ambition Institute: School Leaders or NPQSL programme
  • Whole school focus and action research via the National College
  • Personalised career plan and mentor

Views of our staff

“The support from my school and mentor has ensured a fantastic start to my teaching career at Ormiston Rivers Academy.  Everyone is so helpful and encouraging.”

Mr J Harland          

*Teach First, Schools Direct, Premier Pathways, PGCE students

“Ormiston Rivers Academy has been a huge support to me from my training year through to my ECT, not only from my department but throughout the school.    As a teacher I strive to be my best and at Ormiston we have a very supportive training team that has provided me with the most amazing advice and how I can go about implementing that in my classroom. Also, we have a teaching and learning hub that enables us to keep up to date with our teaching process.    The opportunities available at Ormiston are endless, I have managed to get involved in a wide variety of different clubs this year, one of which I created from my training and have been able to continue this in my ECT years.  I have also recently been given the opportunity to oversee Citizenship provision in the academy.”                   

Miss A Murphy  

“As an ECT you are supported by your mentor and your induction tutor who are there to answer any questions, and to ensure you have everything you need to thrive in this profession. At Ormiston Rivers Academy, you are immediately welcomed into the team and supported to pursue your interests and gain a wealth of experience that aids your development as an educator.” 

Miss E Welham

“Since training at Ormiston Rivers Academy, I have been offered many opportunities to expand my professional development including OAT-wide meetings, CPD sessions and Lead Practitioner visits.   I have been given the support by both Middle Leadership and SLT to pursue my career into ECT 2 with a promotion to ‘Whole School Literacy Lead’.   I have been supported by various members of staff to run whole-school CPD sessions, embed new initiatives across the academy and to learn how to support staff at any level.” 

Miss M Butler  

“I have received tailored mentoring from my line manager in support of my role.   Further training has also been provided by OAT practitioners to develop my pedagogy.    I was promoted to Head of Drama & Dance and I have recently been given the opportunity to apply for a Head of Department position, which I am very excited about.”

Miss K Dallard

“As a Lead Practitioner, my role is two-fold.  Firstly, it includes coordinating the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 5 English curriculum, which involves reading up on the latest information about literary texts, especially with a focus on diversity so that the curriculum is all-encompassing and students develop knowledge and skills that are relevant to the 21st century.    Secondly, I provide coaching to colleagues across the academy to empower them to be the best they can be in the classroom.  This also enables me to reflect upon my own practice and inspires me to read more widely into the pedagogy that drives our profession.”

Mr M Wright

“In combination with an SLT secondment for two terms, as well as numerous leadership courses throughout my 12 years at Ormiston, the academy has fully supported my development into senior leadership.   This has culminated in starting my National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) this academic year to further develop my knowledge and understanding.”

Mr M Clay