PGCE Reflective Practice and CPD 2

Question 1

What does 'continuing professional development' (CPD) involve for teachers?

Accepted Answer

Ongoing engagement with research, training, collaboration, and reflection to improve teaching quality throughout a career

Answer

CPD is a career-long commitment to improving practice through multiple channels — research, coaching, collaboration, formal training, and reflective practice — not just mandated annual events.

Question 2

What is 'coaching' as a form of CPD and how does it differ from mentoring?

Accepted Answer

Coaching draws out the coachee's own solutions through questioning; mentoring passes on the mentor's experience and advice

Answer

Coaching is non-directive — the coach facilitates the coachee's own thinking and problem-solving. Mentoring is more directive, sharing the mentor's experience and expertise.

Question 3

What is a 'professional learning community' (PLC)?

Accepted Answer

A group of educators who collaborate regularly to improve their practice through shared inquiry, reflection, and data analysis

Answer

PLCs are structured collaborative groups within or across schools that use inquiry and shared evidence to improve teaching and pupil outcomes — they are a powerful form of collective CPD.

Question 4

What does 'action research' involve in the context of teacher professional development?

Accepted Answer

Systematically investigating a specific aspect of practice, collecting evidence, and using findings to improve teaching in the teacher's own context

Answer

Action research is practitioner-led inquiry — identifying a question about practice, collecting evidence, implementing changes, and evaluating impact in the specific classroom context.

Question 5

What is the Teachers' Standard that most directly relates to professional development?

Accepted Answer

Standard 8 — wider professional responsibilities, including taking responsibility for improving teaching through CPD

Answer

Standard 8 explicitly includes the requirement to take responsibility for improving teaching through CPD and to engage critically with research and evidence to improve practice.

PGCE Practice Test

PGCE Practice Test

PGCE Reflective Practice and CPD 2