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Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Developing professionals in all sectors of education through personalised learning and study

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We offer a range of award bearing courses which support the development of education professionals, including teachers and teaching assistants in schools and lecturers in Further and Higher Education.  

Professional development is growing in importance in all sectors of education.

  • The TDA recognise that taking part in Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD), which the new standards encourage as part of new professionalism. This states that teachers who have the greatest impact on pupils and are most clearly committed to their own professional development will gain the greatest rewards.
  • The New Professional Standards for the Lifelong Learning Sector ‘Equipping our Teachers for the Future’ are part of a unit and credit framework that includes CPD, with a CPD requirement of 30 hours per year
Smiling women in German language workshop

In addition to our range of award bearing courses we aim to respond quickly to national and local initiatives and individual/learning network or cluster needs.

We design flexible programmes and delivery patterns to suit school and LA preferences and our key aim is to work in partnership to support high quality teaching and school improvement and we encourage you to use your study to achieve this.

If you are interested in CPD and want to discuss your unique requirements then please contact us.  We offer wide ranging expertise, including:

  • Leadership and management
  • Subject specific development
  • Special Educational Needs (SEN)
  • EAL in Multi-ethnic schools
  • Mentoring
  • ICT


The University of Bedfordshire offers teachers with QTS financial help to offset fees for postgraduate courses through the TDA Post Graduate Professional Development (PPD) fund – for more information please contact admissions.

Our range of award bearing courses include:

MA in Education

(Leadership and Management) (Effective Learning and Teaching)

This MA offers a flexible approach and variety of modules, including learning and teaching, subject knowledge and leadership options, enabling you to create and study a personalised programme.

The course is based around the concept of ‘research informed decision making’ and is intended for educational professionals at all stages of their career.

Qualifications in Mentoring

We have a commitment to providing a range of opportunities for those involved in mentoring in education.

An essential element in the effectiveness of training and support for new teachers and those in a new position in schools and colleges is the role of the mentor based in the educational establishment.

Mentors benefit from the opportunity to have their knowledge and skills in mentoring further developed through focused training, on-going reflection and shared good practice.

Lifelong Learning Sector
Adult education maths teaching

We offer programmes which provide recognised and accredited awards in teaching in Post-Compulsory Education, meeting the requirements laid down by Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) for the Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector and the Skills for Life CPD routes.

Qualifications offered

  • Professional Graduate Certificate in Education
  • Certificate in Education
  • Teaching English (Literacy CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • Teaching English (ESOL CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • Teaching Mathematics (Numeracy CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector


We also offer a range of professional development programmes designed to meet current CPD needs in this sector

  • Information and Learning Technology in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • Tutoring Support and Guidance in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • Leadership and Management in Education
  • 14-19 Education
  • Mentoring in Education

Bedfordshire University

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