Why Staff CPD Isn't Changing Classroom Practice

Is teacher CPD actually improving classroom practice, or are we just collecting certificates?Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance.The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works.That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools.It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:- On-site school visit- Detailed, school-specific report- Follow-up strategy session- Practical leadership tools for a clear 90-day planTypically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, Paul Collin is joined by Angelica Celinska, Founder of The Voice of Early Childhood and Co-Founder of BookedIn, to explore what meaningful professional development really looks like.They discuss why CPD should create better questions, not just provide answers, what schools can learn from early years education, and why relationships, belonging and reflective practice matter more than ever.Angelica also shares a powerful personal story about being told not to apply to university — and why teachers should never limit a young person's ambitions.Key topics: Teacher CPD, school leadership, early years education, reflective practice, research-informed teaching and professional development.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelicacelinska/The Voice of Early Childhood: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/BookedIn: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/BookedIn Conference: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/events/launch-202600:00 Every Child Is Unique01:25 Meet Angelica Celinska04:45 The Voice of Early Childhood11:12 Relationships and Leadership12:39 Making CPD Meaningful17:06 Introducing BookedIn22:01 Why CPD Must Go Beyond Certificates25:01 What Schools Can Learn From Early Years29:40 Research Into Practice32:19 AI and Human Connection40:05 Making CPD More Accessible47:00 Advice for School Leaders