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Epworth Education Trust

Continuous

Our Vision

Epworth Education Trust’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) strategy is underpinned by our vision:

'To be a family of schools working together so all within our communities can flourish and succeed.'

It is shaped by the values that define our culture: Aspiration, Inclusivity, Integrity, Wisdom, Generosity, and Collaboration ensuring every colleague has the opportunity to thrive within a supportive and empowering professional environment.

Our values are more than words written on a page.

They are our commitment to how we function as a Trust. They are at the heart of all we do; helping us to shape our actions and bringing into focus what is important to us. Our Methodist roots are a golden thread throughout this. These values shape our behaviours and actions and help us to consider the impact they have upon others. The living out of these actions as an Trust employee, in turn, shape the behaviours and actions of the wider school community.

As a Trust we use the motto ‘DO ALL YOU CAN’ which summarises our ethos and vision as we believe anything is possible when approached with this attitude. It leads us as a Trust to relentlessly serve our staff, pupils and other community members.

Aspiration

We value aspiration as a driving force for personal and collective achievement. We want our employees to feel empowered to set and pursue high personal aspirations, inspiring others through ambition, resilience, and a belief in the possibility of excellence for all. Aspiration is not just about ambition—it’s about purposeful action, continuous growth, and a shared commitment to flourishing together.

Generosity

Generosity is expressed through servant leadership and a commitment to the growth of others. We invest time and energy in others, offering support that enables colleagues and pupils to succeed, develop, and flourish through meaningful opportunities and experiences. placing the needs of the community at the heart and fostering a culture of care, encouragement, and shared success.

Integrity

Integrity is the foundation of a thriving and trustworthy school culture where every individual understands the role they play in building a respectful, honest, and responsible environment and we act with transparency and consistency, ensuring that decisions and actions are guided by ethical principles and a commitment to the success of all.

Collaboration

Collaboration is a purposeful and strategic act that empowers everyone to flourish. We build collective efficacy through intentional collaboration, ensuring its in the right place at the right time, recognising the value of teamwork in personal and professional growth. We believe that collaboration is not just about working together—it’s about working wisely, purposefully, and inclusively to achieve more than we could alone.

Inclusivity

At Epworth Education Trust, inclusivity is at the heart of our culture. We respect and recognise the uniqueness of every individual, celebrating diversity and fostering a sense of belonging for all. We create a culture where every stakeholder has a voice, ensuring that pupils, staff, families, and the wider community can actively shape the ethos and direction of the Trust and its schools

Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to act with insight, empathy, and purpose. We utilise professional curiosity to deeply understand all areas of school life, enabling informed decisions that positively impact the whole community. We demonstrate resilience and adaptability, responding to change and setbacks with strength, reflection, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Wisdom is not just knowledge—it’s the thoughtful application of understanding, empathy, and resilience to help our communities flourish.

Our Offer

Our CPD programme is not just about developing skills, it’s about nurturing a culture of shared learning and continuous improvement where every individual feels valued, supported, and equipped to make a meaningful impact.

Epworth Education Trust aims to ensure that all staff have the opportunity to participate in high-quality professional development.

At the heart of our commitment to staff development, our Trust CPD strategy offers a rich and varied learning journey for all members of our Trust community. Staff can engage with both internal and external expertise, work towards professional learning accreditation, and benefit from the collective knowledge within our Trust family.

Our professional development offer is adaptable and continually shaped by staff feedback. We encourage everyone to explore the range of opportunities available through our ‘CPD Training Directory’ and choose training that best aligns with their needs and supports their Professional Learning Review (PLR) goals.

At Epworth, we understand that some colleagues pursue CPD to progress in their careers, while others focus on excelling in their current roles. Both pathways are equally valued, and our CPD offer ensures that all staff have access to the development opportunities they need to achieve their ambitions.

CPD across the Trust is delivered in a variety of ways, including face-to-face sessions, departmental or schoolbased meetings, webinars, and other online platforms. Many options are available flexibly, enabling staff to take ownership of their own professional growth.

Dedicated CPD time

At the heart of our commitment to staff development, our Trust CPD Strategy offers a rich and varied learning journey for all members of our Trust community. To show the Trust’s commitment towards this, the Trust schedules 5 hours of dedicated Trust CPD time to all staff across the year.

Delivered through five half-termly sessions across the academic year, each CPD session is designed to support the growth, aspirations, and professional expertise of individual staff needs.

Within this time wider staff are invited to complete 1 hour of CPD – in addition to the current offer of the school. These sessions usually run on the second Monday of each half term aligning with the Trust’s delivery of Tier 1 Training to teachers which is delivered within staff meeting time.

For wider staff, this 1-hour training can be completed at work or at home and a record of this CPD recorded through completion of an evaluation form and uploaded onto our online system, Edupay.

Overview of the Universal Offer

In collaboration with leaders across our family of schools, we strive to ensure our professional development opportunities are meaningful, relevant, and accessible to all colleagues no matter their role or stage in their career.

In addition to the opportunities available within individual schools, we also provide:

5 Trust Wide CPD sessions a year Annual Trust-Wide Conference

Access to Trust webinars available on the Trust’s ‘You Tube’ training channel

Opportunities for accreditation and certification

Access to a range of online training platforms

A Trust wide series of professional learning pathways

Access to a range of Trust Networks

Bespoke CPD and development programmes

Opportunities to contribute to Trust working groups and support the development of ongoing initiatives.

We are dedicated to continuous professional development, ensuring all colleagues have the skills and knowledge necessary for success.

Induction

Target Audience

New colleagues joining the Epworth Trust

Family

Induction at Epworth Education Trust

"Starting Strong Together: Induction Rooted in Our Vision and Values, So All in Our Family of Schools Can Flourish."

Upon joining Epworth Education Trust, new colleagues participate in a comprehensive induction programme designed to ensure they are well-informed and welcomed from the outset. The programme delivers focused training and clear guidance across all essential areas, enabling each individual to approach their responsibilities with confidence and understanding.

By investing in staff development from the beginning, Epworth Education Trust fosters an inclusive and supportive environment in which new employees quickly develop a sense of belonging and readiness to contribute effectively. The induction process includes scheduled review meetings with line managers and provides access to all necessary resources and training. This structured approach facilitates a smooth transition, allowing new colleagues to settle in promptly and play an active, valued role within the Trust.

Course Length

Time & Date

Variable depending on role Upon joining us

Developing Practice Through Line Management

"Nurturing

Aspiration and Collaboration: Developing Practice through Line Management so Every Member of Our Trust Family Can Flourish and Succeed."

At Epworth Education Trust, we are committed to providing outstanding line management support for every member of staff, regardless of their role or responsibilities. Each employee is paired with a dedicated line manager who prioritises wellbeing, supports professional growth, and champions ongoing development.

Our line managers:

Hold regular formal meetings and remain available for informal conversations whenever needed. Give constructive feedback and clear, practical guidance.

Drive staff development through the Professional Learning Review (PLR) process, setting tailored goals to support progress.

Facilitate access to a broad range of development opportunities, including training, buddy systems, coaching, and mentoring.

Promote a healthy work-life balance by identifying and providing appropriate wellbeing support.

Effective line management is central to our Trust’s success.

Developing Practice

Target Audience

Course Length

Time & Date

All colleagues As agreed with your line manager All year round

Professional Learning Review

"Empowering Success: Professional Learning Review Rooted in Aspiration and Wisdom, So Our Communities Can Flourish and Succeed."

Epworth Education Trust has introduced the Professional Learning Review (PLR) to replace traditional appraisal models. This new approach puts staff development and wellbeing at its core, ensuring equal support and opportunities for all colleagues, no matter their role or career stage.

The PLR process empowers staff to take charge of their own professional growth by setting personalised CPD goals that align with both their individual ambitions and the wider priorities of the school and trust. With ongoing guidance from their line manager, staff can shape their learning pathway - whether they aim to progress in their careers or achieve excellence in their current role.

The PLR also provides dedicated time for staff to reflect on their professional learning and development in partnership with their line manager. This creates space for meaningful conversations about continuous improvement and helps to identify future CPD opportunities.

Professional Learning Review

Target Audience

Time & Date

All colleagues Three times a year

Online Learning Platforms

"Empowering Success: Professional Learning Review Rooted in Aspiration and Wisdom, So Our Communities Can Flourish and Succeed."

At Epworth Education Trust, our professional development offer is enhanced by access to a wide range of online learning platforms, including Smartlog, SSS Learning, The Key, Pixl, NGA and webinars available on the Trust’s You Tube Channel. Access to these platforms is essential for supporting the continuous professional development of all staff at Epworth.

These platforms provide flexible, on-demand learning opportunities that can be tailored to individual roles and needs. This ensures that colleagues remain up to date with the latest practices and policies. The user-friendly platforms offer a broad selection of accredited, high-quality courses in key areas such as education, inclusion, management, governance, safeguarding, health and safety, human resources, and compliance.

Our comprehensive digital offer ensures that every colleague can access ongoing learning relevant to their specific roles. This helps everyone stay informed about current practices, policies, and technologies. By ensuring consistent and equitable access to high-quality training, these online platforms help build a skilled and confident workforce, promote collaboration across schools, and ultimately enhance outcomes for all our pupils.