The Importance of CPD for PE Teachers

This article provides a brief overview on CPD for PE Teachers. The role of a PE teacher is to plan and teach a variety of lessons in physical education, in order to improve physical skills, in children of different ages at either primary or secondary level. As high-quality Physical Education is becoming so key across all Key Stages, the need for CPD becomes greater in order to maintain standards and improve both knowledge and skills within the sector.

What is CPD and why is it important for PE teachers?

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development and is the term used to describe the training and learning a PE teacher undertakes to improve their workplace capabilities.

Teachers will learn naturally over the course of their career, however just learning from experience alone can ultimately limit their future development. Continuing Professional Development enables them to become the best possible PE teachers they can be and allows their pupils to achieve more from their teaching.

Benefits of CPD for PE teachers

CPD has several benefits as it allows PE teachers to keep up to date with the latest developments and best practices. These can be used to enhance everyday teaching. Teaching methods are continually developing, and CPD gives you the opportunity to learn new techniques and strategies to use. It can also give you the knowledge and skills to support specific needs among students that aren’t normally covered in teacher training, such as how to support students with disabilities or quite specific special education needs.

CPD offers you one of the best ways to improve your skills as a PE Teacher, increases your overall job satisfaction and enhances your lessons. Across an entire school it can have a very positive effect. The main purpose of CPD is create an environment where continuous improvement and a high quality of teaching is the norm. CPD should also address development needs, maximise strengths and enable all teachers to meet the challenges of modern teaching.

CPD Requirements for PE teachers

 All UK teachers are required to undergo 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development per year, with some teachers suggesting the value of establishing a National Teaching Institute to ensure high-quality, regulated CPD and training within the industry.  

Association for Physical Education (afPE)

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is the representative Subject Association for PE in the UK. In September 2021, a new PE CPD for Teachers offer was launched to replace The FA Primary and Secondary Teachers’ Awards. This digital programme is designed to provide teachers and trainee teachers with knowledge and understanding of the key elements that reinforce high-quality Physical Education across Key Stages. The programme is complemented by practical and face-to-face learning experiences and is carried out locally by the FA PE Team as part of their ongoing teacher and initial teacher training development offer.

The Department for Education (DfE)

In July 2016, the Department for Education (DfE) published a new Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development for all schools in England. The Standard sets out a clear description of what effective Continuing Professional Development (CPD) looks like for teachers. To make good practice happen, action must be taken by school leaders, teachers and from external providers or experts.

The Standard describes 5 key headline ideas for Continuing Professional Development, which should:

• Have a focus on improving and evaluating pupil outcomes.
• Be underpinned by robust evidence and expertise.
• Include collaboration and expert challenge.
• Be sustained over time

And all this is underpinned by, and requires that Continuing Professional Development must be prioritised by school leadership.

What are the different types of CPD training for PE Teachers?

There are a range of different types of CPD training for PE teachers, which include both structured or unstructured training, as well as work-based learning. For example;

• Training courses
• Seminars
• Conferences
• Online courses and e-learning courses
• Attending webinars
• Keeping up to date with relevant teacher related news
• Reading educational articles, publications, journals and magazines
• Researching and keeping track of the work of teaching experts
• Peer observation
• Shadowing

How to find CPD Physical Education (PE) courses

The CPD Courses Catalogue offers a wide range of CPD certified training courses relevant to the Continuing Professional Development requirements of different industry professionals. PE teacher courses include Sports First Aid, Holistic Development, Learning through games, Mapping a PE Curriculum, Cardiovascular & Community Building Activities, High-Quality Teaching and Learning in PE.

Where can you log and record your individual CPD?

If you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing Continuing Professional Development, as well as store your personal training record and CPD attendance certificates in one simple place, please visit the myCPD Portal page.

How to become a CPD accredited training provider?

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail.