PSA: I’ve never watched Community and am now hoovering it up. It is exactly what Betwixtmas was made for

We're here for you this Christmas Eve 💙 Our free, confidential helpline is open 24/7 for everyone working in education - 08000 652 651. 📷 Art by Twinkl Resources

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? Our free and confidential helpline is open tonight. We’ve been supporting education staff for over 148 years and understand the challenges you face. 📞 Give us a call - 08000 562 561

Emotionally healthy teachers and education staff make better learning possible. Take time to look after your mental health - we can help. Contact us tonight, no matter what you're facing. We're here to listen 💙 📞: 08000 562 561

Some food for thought…

Happening today at 2pm: Our Introducing Chorus online info session with Penrose Co-Founder Rob Caudwell. Still time to join if you’d like an overview of the project and the Spring 2026 pilot. 🔗

This Mexican WWII poster is some of the hardest shit ever

Didagogy, new Hub content, and the latest on our National Conference 🎙️ Read our September newsletter

⚠️ 'Many conspiracy theories are driven by highly emotive disinformation, sometimes supported by family. This is no easy thing we are asking teachers to do' @garethconyard.bsky.social reflects on the commission into countering conspiracy theories in schools

Special Offer for September 📢 Building a strong culture of trust  is the first step to any successful CPD programme. That's why, this month, we're offering our e-learning module "How to Foster Trust for Professional Development" for just £9.99

Given the proliferation of St George's Flags recently, and some of the clearly unsavoury connotations motivating some, it got me thinking: what are the alternative flag options? So I wrote a short blog. medium.com/@carduelis/w...

This is BIG!!!!!!!

dass me 🤡

TDT is staying active, so if you're working in a role without a summer break, or fancy dipping into some planning, we're around to chat through any challenges Book a free 30 minute call:

For anybody who works in the fast food area, I cannot stress enough how much of a killing this place would make in London burgermeister.com/locations/?l.... Just the most delicious food. Can somebody please open one up here? 🙏🏻🍔🍟🍺

In their second meeting, our expert working party explored the process of professional development over just the content, along with common challenges to teacher learning. Read the outcomes of their discussion below.

Today at 2pm: Discover Mosaic for ITE providers. Track trainee progress, streamline admin and support mentors with ease. Book: mosaic.penrose.education/discover-mos... #ITE #ITT #EdTech #ManagementPlatform

An amazing day at the victory parade with my wonderful boy. Hopefully he will not have to wait another 17 years to see another one #COYS #Europachampions

The recording of the 2025 David Monis-Weston Lecture is now live on our website! Read Gareth Conyard's introduction to the event below, then create a free account to watch the full lecture

RIP George Wendt

On point in my view.The current theory of change for teacher/leader development-that expertise is held externally & evidence is all-sidelines the expertise and contextual understanding within the sector. Perhaps we should ask, if CPD doesn’t serve educators on the ground, who exactly is it serving?

Getting appraisal right - ensuring it is truly developmental and trusted - can make the difference between keeping and improving somebody, or watching them become more frustrated and disengaged. In a world of recruitment and retention crises, it is so important to do it well

⏯️ 'The starting point for any review should be to ask teachers and school leaders what they need help with' @garethconyard.bsky.social and Sir Steve Lancashire schoolsweek.co.uk/the-review-i...

"It's good... but it's not right" Read our CEO Gareth Conyard's new article written with Steve Lancashire on what the starting point for the DfE's NPQ review should have been. 

In our work with hundreds of leaders of CPD in education, TDT identify these 7 important aspects leaders should consider when they aim to improve CPD across a whole school or trust. You can find out more about each domain here: https://tdtrust.org/about/7-domains-of-people-powered-improvement/

I am delighted that our new FREE CPD Leadership Hub is now available! If you have any interest in professional development of teachers and school leaders, sign-up to get FREE access: FREE resources, a FREE reflection tool, a FREE 30 minute call with one of our expert Professional Learning Leads /1

Create a free account now to: 💭 Use our CPD Leadership Reflection Tool  💡 Grow your knowledge of what makes effective CPD through our libraries of research and insights 🧩 Buy Online Learning Modules for guidance on applying what you’ve learned to your setting https://tdtrust.org/cpd-leadership/

If you ever want to question the value of a history degree then consider the dangers of people in power spreading guff for their own modern day purposes

This is an important part of the Schools Bill. It isn't anti-uniform, but helps to to make sure uniform is affordable for all and counter the rise in the number of branded (expensive) items. Do schools really need branded trousers, for example? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Just heard my first swifts! Not seen them yet

Happy St George's Day! www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-...

Pusillanimity is an underused word

This whole billionaire-slash-model space tourist thing isn’t a victory for women at all. It's misogynistic and insulting. While NASA (kneeling to this administration) is erasing the real contributions, the true heroism, the incredible impact women have truly had on the Space Program and science.

On what is a really difficult day, here are some resources for our trans friends and allies. Solidarity 💜 goodlawproject.org/resource/sup...

We value voices echoing the importance of CPD for teachers and more financial resources are always welcome. However, it's notable that many of the most impactful improvements leaders can make to professional development can be done no matter the CPD funding environment buff.ly/O87i0Bm

⬇️🧵 #LetsCreate

TDT has been going through a period of expansion and change to respond to the needs of teachers and school leaders.  To complement this process, we are looking to appoint up to 4 new trustees to join our board. https://tdtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Trustee-Recruitment-2025-FINAL.pdf

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... I knew it!

💄 Our socials have had a makeover 👔 In preparation for our website launch, we've refreshed our brand! Expect things to look a little different as we run up to releasing our new products 🌟

I think this is a sensible decision. Whilst I understand the attraction to prioritise in this way, these schemes have existed for decades (Liverpool has been a priority area in one way or another since the late 1960s) which rather suggests they are not actually that effective?

This is a really important reality for schools. Real-term cuts will have real world impacts...

It’s World Poetry Day so sharing this by Emily Dickinson. A reminder that, amidst the tragedy and darkness, the ability of the human soul to endure is remarkable.

If you're hearing that professional development isn't quite hitting with your staff team, you may need a new plan.  Our CPD Leadership Qualification guides participants to build a strategic CPD plan, informed by the evidence of what makes CPD effective. https://tdtrust.org/cpd-leadership-course/

Well this is sad. I loved 5Star as a kid (Silk or Steel was the first album I owned) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am so pleased to be working with this excellent organisation.

So civil service reform is again being considered. Too often it is held up as some kind of magical panacea but it isn’t. To be clear, perfomance has long been part of the service so the only things that feels new is how its implemented. But there are risks… carduelis.medium.com/what-do-civi...

Astonishing! First time I’ve ever seen a Red Kite in Hither Green!

For those who have not read @mariaconyard.bsky.social annual Oscar’s blog, here it is! medium.com/@mariaconyar...?

Happy St David’s Day!

So sad to see the UK resile from its international development responsibilities. I know there are tough trade offs to be made, but hard to stomach anything being done at the expense of the very poorest and most desperate around the world. As a former DFID employee, I know the impact UKAID can make