Staff Development

At Bushey Federation, we know that our greatest resource is our staff and we place their professional development and growth at the heart of learning community.

We know that effective school improvement depends upon recognising an important distinction: a CPD programme and a professional development strategy are NOT the same thing.

Like many schools, we use evidence to identify the priorities that matter most for our children and families. Our CPD programme is shaped by careful evaluation of both our settings, our staff and the impact of our work. We draw on pupil outcomes, quality assurance processes, research evidence and ongoing evaluation to determine where professional learning can most effectively support progress towards our strategic goals. This ensures that professional development is purposeful, relevant and directly connected to the needs of our children.

However, we also recognise that school improvement cannot be sustained through organisational priorities alone. Alongside our CPD programme sits a broader professional development strategy focused on the growth of every member of staff as a teacher, leader and lifelong learner.

Our philosophy is built upon the belief that professional growth flourishes when individuals are supported to pursue their own development journey within a culture of trust, reflection and collaboration. We invest in meaningful professional growth conversations with staff, ensuring access to relevant training, qualifications and learning opportunities. Just as importantly, we create the capacity within our leadership team to coach, mentor and guide colleagues as they develop their expertise and confidence.

A significant part of this work is our commitment to collaborative professional inquiry. Inspired by the Lesson Study approach developed by Pete Dudley, we have established systems that allow staff to observe one another, reflect on practice and engage in professional dialogue. Over time, we have evolved this model to place personal growth at its centre. Staff are encouraged to use observations as a starting point for deeper reflection, supported by discussion with colleagues, engagement with research, professional reading, videos, podcasts and wider exploration of effective pedagogy. In this way, professional learning becomes an ongoing process of curiosity, reflection and refinement rather than a series of isolated training events.

Feedback from staff on their wellbeing and welfare, illustrates that staff who are driven by self-improvement and a desire to grow, appreciate this model, stay with us and help us to sustain very low staff turnover indeed.

We also believe that expertise grows through connection. The Federation itself was founded on the principle that schools are stronger when they work together. By proactively federating our two local schools, we have created opportunities for collaboration that benefit both our staff and our children. Beyond our own settings, we actively participate in local leadership networks and create opportunities for colleagues to work alongside peers in other schools through moderation, professional discussion and shared learning.  We are fortunate indeed to be based in Bushey, with such wonderfully strong schools and amazing colleagues in our locality to liaise with and learn from. 

Our partnership with the local authority further extends these opportunities. Leaders and staff from our Federation schools have been able to support other schools facing staffing challenges or specific improvement priorities through secondments and collaborative projects. These experiences not only strengthen the wider educational community but also provide powerful opportunities for professional growth, enabling our staff to develop new skills, perspectives and leadership capabilities.

Ultimately, we see professional development through two complementary lenses: improvement of the organisation and growth of the individual. One ensures that our schools continue to meet the needs of our children; the other builds the expertise, leadership capacity and professional fulfilment that sustain improvement over time. Together, they create a culture where learning is continuous, collaboration is valued and every member of staff is empowered to grow.