Professional Development
Welcome to the OIE's temporary Professional Development website. While exciting updates are being made to our existing website, information and booking links for our professional development opportunities can be found here. Navigate to the appropriate page, depending on your role, using the menu at the top of the page or the links below.
External to Outwood?
If you see something you like, and are interested in finding out more, please contact us at OIE@outwood.com to discuss requirements and availability.
Find out more about the professional development offer for your role
Our Commitment
We are committed to investing in our colleagues and their professional development, and this is achieved through the OIE’s professional development offer.
Professional development not only encompasses formal training but includes weekly, dedicated Learning & Performance Development time (L&P), peer networks, opportunities to engage in career enhancing experiences, in and outside of the Trust, with the intention that any learning is shared and implemented in the colleague’s own school and/or across the wider organisation. Further, colleagues will have access to coaching and mentoring support, where this is considered appropriate. We will also invest in supporting our staff to manage their own wellbeing.
To ensure that teaching and support colleagues are abreast of the latest research, have access to technological advancements and opportunities to enhance their career experience, we have developed and, over the course of the next academic year, will deliver an impactful professional development offer which meets the needs of all colleagues and governors, and is aligned with the Trust’s priorities.
Outwood Entitlement
Our professional development commitment will be underpinned by a minimum entitlement, to be known as the Outwood Entitlement, which will set out the specialist training and professional development opportunities colleagues have access to. It will be tailored to the range of roles within the organisation, through a ‘layered’ approach for teaching staff based on career stage and a ‘family’ based approach for support staff based on commonalities across roles.
We are in the early stages of developing the three parts which will make up the Outwood Entitlement. These will be:
Universal Offer - the minimum level of professional development activity a colleague is expected to engage in. This will be tailored to individual roles
Enhanced Offer - additional professional development activity each job role may benefit from. Colleagues seeking to prepare themselves for new and/or promotional opportunities may be keen to engage with this
Targeted Offer - highly focused professional development activity delivered in response to a Trust-identified need/priority. Specific job roles will be invited/asked to engage in this where it is felt appropriate
More information, along with this new nomenclature, will be shared over the course of the academic year.
Professional Development Strands
Our professional development offer will comprise four strands:
Governance - development and networking opportunities for governors
Leadership - development of existing and aspiring leaders at all levels
Operational Delivery - development of colleagues who ensure the efficient functioning and statutory compliance of schools and the wider Trust
Pedagogy & Research - development of classroom teachers at all careers stages
The Outwood Entitlement for each role may include training and professional development from multiple strands, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the offer.
External Partners
Our internal offer is supplemented by external activity through established links with sector partners including:
the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) delivered by the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT);
accredited accountancy and payroll qualifications (AAT, CIMA and CIPP Payroll Technician Certificate - Advanced);
careers leader training through Teach First;
physics teaching through our partnership with the Ogden Trust; and
the Fresh Start programme by Ruth Miskin Training.
Work is in its infancy with the Chartered College of Teaching to develop accredited next generation leadership programmes, helping to create capacity in advance of need. We look forward to sharing more details as the programmes take shape.
Interested in the NPQs & Future Professional Development Opportunities?
The OIE continually develops its professional development offer, including opportunities available through partners organisations. Follow the adjacent link to find out more and register your interest.