Staff Development at Bushey Meads School
Bushey Meads School takes a proactive, outward-facing approach to staff development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement where even the smallest gains contribute to the collective success of the school. We firmly believe in the power of both external professional development opportunities and the internal sharing of best practices to elevate our standards and further enhance teaching and learning.
Our open-door policy promotes an environment of collaboration, allowing staff to visit classrooms across disciplines to observe, learn, and adapt innovative strategies. This seamless exchange of ideas is integral to our ethos, ensuring that best practices are shared and implemented consistently.
Staff development at Bushey Meads is purposefully aligned with our overarching school vision and annual strategic objectives. Each year, professional development is tailored to support the direction of the school, and this year, our theme is “Innovate, Inspire, Include.” The focus is to foster a growth mindset among our staff, ensuring that we continue to evolve and respond to the ever-changing educational landscape.
To support this vision, the Teaching and Learning team leads six focused initiatives throughout the academic year during development mornings and afternoons. Each half-term, a different area of professional development is highlighted, including key topics such as:
- Behaviour Management
- Emerging Technologies
- Assessment for Learning (AFL)
- Planning for Purpose
- Inclusion
- Adaptive Learning
Each focus area is managed by members of the Teaching and Learning team who lead a series of dynamic, engaging development sessions aimed at inspiring and refining teaching practices. We also welcome guest speakers to provide expert insights and innovative perspectives on emerging educational trends, further enriching our staff development programme. These sessions not only introduce new strategies and concepts but also create a space for staff to actively apply their learning in the classroom, ensuring that the development is both practical and impactful.
Additionally, our weekly “Monday Magic Moments” session at the end of staff briefings serves as a platform to share successful teaching tips, innovative ideas, and knowledge. This peer-sharing initiative is crucial in ensuring that the entire staff body is engaged in continuous improvement and has access to the wealth of expertise within our school.
To further enhance professional development, Bushey Meads hosts two conferences each academic year. These conferences feature renowned guest speakers who deliver thought-provoking keynote talks on current educational trends and challenges. Following the keynotes, pedagogy-led workshops are held, facilitated by the Teaching and Learning team and colleagues across the BSJT. These workshops provide practical, hands-on opportunities for staff to deepen their understanding of new pedagogical approaches.
Faculty time is allocated during these events for discussion and collaborative reflection, allowing staff to engage with peers and refine ideas and strategies. The day culminates in a “Bring and Brag” session, where staff present successful strategies and insights, fostering a strong sense of professional community and shared purpose.
Through these targeted professional development initiatives, we aim to create a school-wide culture of innovation, inclusivity, and inspiration—ensuring that both staff and students continue to thrive in a supportive, forward-thinking educational environment.
