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Continuing professional development is hard to access

Region: National [More National news...]

Posted on: Thursday, 11 Mar 2010

85% of the Head Teachers and Heads of Language Departments responding to a survey by the government-funded Links into Languages programme reported that funding, time, cover and location contributed to difficulties in providing continuing professional development (CPD) for language teachers. 1 in 4 language teachers, from the same survey, are finding it difficult to access CPD.

Responses to this survey came mainly from Head Teachers and Heads of Departments but also included key stakeholders, local authorities and teachers from across the nine English regions. They identify the CPD priorities of language teachers as implementing the Key Stage 3 curriculum, tracking pupils’ progress and cross-phase transition, Assessment for Learning (AfL) and differentiation strategies. Teachers want training on the use of advanced technologies such as web and online teaching resources and learning, video conferencing, blogs, Twitter and podcasts to inform relevant and practical classroom practice.

Mike Kelly, Director of Links into Languages said:

‘It must be a key priority to make professional development more accessible for language teachers. We have had a terrific level of response from senior management teams in schools, which reflect the importance they place on supporting language teachers. We will take account of their views in developing the programmes we offer teachers.’

Links is responding to these concerns by offering affordable and accessible CPD for language teachers and educators delivered by nationally recognised trainers through a network of regional and local centres. The courses address a number of the issues identified, and provide signposting and practical resources for immediate use in the classroom to address teachers’ priorities. Links is working with other key providers to ensure that information about all CPD opportunities for languages is accessible on the Links website.

Notes for editors

1. Links into Languages is commissioned and funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to support the National Languages Strategy.
2. Links into Languages is a consortium led by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS), in partnership with the Association for Language Learning (ALL) and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT).
3. This survey was conducted from October to December 2009 by SSAT on behalf of Links into Languages. A total of 829 responses were received from key stakeholders, Head Teachers, Heads of Language Departments and language teachers across 145 different local authorities.
4. Professor Michael Kelly is Professor of French at the University of Southampton and Director of Links into Languages which is based at the UK Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies at the University of Southampton, with a remit to support teaching and learning in these subjects in higher education across the UK.
5. Links Regional Centres are a nationally co-ordinated network of support centres based in universities, in each of the nine English regions, supported by a network of over 70 Links Local Centres offering training and drop-in facilities for meetings, networking and access to resources.
6. Links works in partnership with Routes into Languages, other providers, including CILT, the National Centre for Languages and all the major stakeholders. Links seeks to ensure that those working in the field of languages have clear information, advice and guidance about all the support services available.

For further information contact:

Linda Cadier, Deputy Director, Links into Languages, University of Southampton
T: 023 80599391
E: l.cadier@soton.ac.uk