This Toolkit is for classroom teachers in secondary schools. Teachers, like all other professionals (doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects and many others), can develop their skills and expertise throughout their careers. This is essential in our fast-changing world. No one would like to be treated by doctors who relied only on what they learned during their initial training! The same is true of all professionals. Parents/guardians and local communities value teachers who show a commitment to improving their practice on a regular basis.

There is now good evidence that the most effective forms of professional development for teachers take place in school. Teachers value the help they can receive from their immediate colleagues.

School-based teacher development (SBTD) also benefits where possible from the help of external agencies. A visiting advisory teacher might provide this or it could be through an online programme.

In many parts of the world, local advisory teachers and in-service training staff can also play a valuable role. There should be someone in the school coordinating the implementation of SBTD. This might be the principal or a senior experienced teacher. SBTD is about improving the practice of individual teachers, but it is also about teamwork and improving the school’s achievements as a whole.
Good resources to assist with trying out new approaches are also important. We hope you will see this Toolkit as one such resource.