Professional Development

At The Skinners’ School our aim is to drive our vision for teaching and learning (focusing on Quality First Teaching) and positive behaviour for learning.  We believe that rich conversations between thoughtful professionals is the way to improve.

Professional Development Time consists of hearing from experts (internal and external), independent research, seminar discussions, collaborative planning and time in departmental and pastoral teams.

Staff can shape their professional development in order to support school improvement. This is achieved through regular staff meetings to promote outstanding teaching and learning and to keep up to date with new ideas in pedagogy.  Initially they meet as a whole teaching body before moving to more dedicated department time where staff share effective practice in teaching and assessment.  We also offer opportunities for more specialist development pathways.

As part of the Skinners’ Company and the Skinners’ Academies Trust, staff have the opportunity develop alongside the other Skinners’ schools to deepen the link and relationships between them. The Skinners’ Company Middle Leadership programme covers a range of issues that prospective and current middle leaders find useful and powerful in informing their practice. The Purposeful Practice Programme allows teachers to reflect on their classroom practice and to continue to develop their teaching.

The school supports applications from staff to take NPQs offered through a range of accredited providers. Staff are also encouraged to participate in training programmes and courses offered by the Chartered College of Teaching.

New staff joining the school at any point in the academic year take advantage of an induction programme in order to familiarise them with our systems and procedures. 

Early Career Teachers

All Early Career Teachers (ECTs) have a specialist, external national comprehensive induction programme. Our ECTs have their ECF (Early Career Framework) delivered through the Kent Teaching School Hub; we follow the core induction programme with the Ambition Institute as the lead provider. All ECTs have a dedicated mentor and a dedicated Induction co-ordinator who will support mentors and early career teachers to engage, and ensure that mentoring time is protected. ECTs also engage in whole school PDT.