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Staff Development

Staff Development at Bolder Academy

At Bolder Academy, we believe that great teaching transforms lives. We are committed to nurturing teachers who are Kind, Strong, and Brave — aligned with our core Teaching and Learning Principles — to ensure the highest standards of education for every student.

Our Vision for Professional Learning

We aim to:

  • Support teachers in becoming reflective, research-informed professionals.
  • Empower staff to model Bolder values in every classroom: being Kind in relationships, Strong in practice, and Brave in development.
  • Embed a culture of continuous improvement and high expectations across all teams.
Our CPD Programme

Our CPD is rooted in the Bolder vision of developing:

  • Kind Teachers: who know their students well, foster positive relationships, and create a calm, purposeful learning climate.
  • Strong Teachers: who are expert practitioners, planning and delivering highly effective, inclusive lessons using the Bolder lesson format.
  • Brave Teachers: who are reflective, research-engaged, and actively collaborate to improve practice.


The CPD offer includes:

  • Whole-school INSET and weekly CPD sessions
  • Subject-specific development
  • Evidence-based pedagogy sessions and peer sharing
  • Personalised CPD pathways aligned with staff needs and aspirations
Instructional Coaching at Bolder

In 2025/26 we will be introducing Steplab to implement a structured, high-impact instructional coaching model:

  • Weekly 1:1 coaching for teaching staff taking part in the pilot programme
  • Bite-sized, focused feedback aligned with the Bolder lesson principles (e.g., clarity of objectives, effective questioning, guided practice)
  • Video reflection and target-setting
  • Completion of the Coaching Skills Builder by coaching leads to enhance feedback and mentoring practice

This supports our aim to make Brave teachers even braver — continuously developing their craft with honesty, humility, and ambition.

Support for ITTs & ECTs

We are proud to support the next generation of teachers with:

  • High-quality mentoring from trained staff
  • A structured ECT induction aligned with the Early Career Framework
  • Access to the Bolder CPD and pilot coaching model
  • Regular feedback, training, and professional dialogue

Kindness and structure define our approach to early career support.

Leadership Development

We believe in growing leadership from within. Staff can progress through:

  • NPQ qualifications and internal leadership training
  • Leading CPD or coaching colleagues
  • Department or pastoral leadership roles
  • Involvement in strategic school improvement

Leaders at Bolder are Strong and Brave, modelling the standards we seek in every classroom.

Collaboration & External Partnerships

Our CPD model is enhanced by:

  • Partnerships with Hounslow Education Partnership (HEP), Teach First and Steplab
  • Collaboration with local Teaching School Hubs
  • Opportunities for staff to engage in wider professional networks
Reflecting and Growing

We regularly evaluate the impact of CPD through:

  • Coaching conversations
  • Learning looks and book scrutiny
  • Staff voice and survey feedback
  • Student outcomes and engagement

At Bolder, we are proud that every teacher is a learner, and every learner deserves the best.