It is becoming increasingly clear that it is the quality of teaching that can make the biggest difference to pupils learning.  So, although there have been major changes in the curriculum in all phases, there is now a major focus on teaching and learning.

This provides different approaches to professional development emphasising your individual skills/knowledge as a classroom practitioner not just as a deliverer of the curriculum.

In particular, it is being acknowledged that teachers need to be able to use a wide range of different strategies to manage and organise the learning of children.  For example, understanding more about teaching styles and particularly understanding children's preferred learning styles may therefore be a key area of our professional development.

This hopefully means that self-reflection and feedback from others (headteacher, team leader, colleagues and kids!) will increasingly lead you to understand your deeper level teaching skills and areas in which you can improve.  Look at the 360° feedback tools and consider any significant professional development implications.

You should also look at the Birmingham Professional Development Guarantee, which sets out the standards and quality of training and development opportunities available to Birmingham teachers, to support your professional and career development.