What Actually Works in Teacher Development

Education Leaders | The Chart-Topping School Leadership Podcast · Mar 24, 2026 · 15m

England spends £1 billion a year on teacher professional development, yet a poll of school leaders found that just 1% said it led to lasting change in practice. This episode examines why that gap exists, drawing on a landmark 2025 report from the Teacher Development Trust, which surveyed over a thousand teachers and leaders across England. The findings are stark, but the patterns, as Shane argues, are universal and if you lead a school anywhere in the world, the problems will feel familiar.

You'll learn about the significant perception gap between what leaders think CPD achieves and what…