West Berkshire school scoops prestigious award
Denefield School is the first in the district to be awarded for its excellence in training staff
A TILEHURST school has achieved a prestigious gong for its excellence in training staff, becoming the first in West Berkshire and one of only 40 nationally to receive the award.
Following two days of rigorous assessments, Denefield School has been awarded the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Mark for helping staff stay ahead of the game by developing individual skills and expertise.
Staff were interviewed by a CPD Mark assessor and contributed to a portfolio of evidence detailing staff development and training practices.
Having scored 98 per cent over the course of the examination, and the award, caps off a remarkable turnaround.
Poor exam results led to the government-run school being placed in special measures in December 2008.
The appointment of a new headteacher, Glyn Whiteford, in February 2009, kick-started a two-year turnaround which saw the school removed from special measures in December 2010.
Mr Whiteford, said: “We are extremely proud to have the quality of our training recognised through the award of the CPD Mark. The quality of staff lies at the heart of the success we have had over the last two years in raising standards. In my view there is a direct correlation between investment in staff and the quality of the outcomes for students.”
Denefield's assistant headteacher, Helen Lindsay (pictured above left, with Aideen Traynor, professional development coach who submitted the bid), said the school was delighted its commitment to training had been recognised: “The CPD Mark has confirmed our reputation for providing high quality induction and training for all our staff.
“Our recent Ofsted inspection found that teachers at Denefield are increasingly confident and ambitious to improve, and this is, in large part, due to our investment in maintaining high standards in CPD.”
Director of the CPD Mark, Graham Rollinson said Denefield staff showed a “totally professional” approach to the CPD Mark process.
“We are delighted that they have successfully achieved the award and look forward to working with them on other projects in the future,” he said.
