The importance of using professional discussions in developing staff

Professional Discussions for Colleges

The importance of using professional discussions in developing staff

Using CollegeiP's interim review functionality to record professional discussions

Regular professional discussions among colleagues are integral to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and effective educational environment. They play a vital role in professional development, problem-solving, and ultimately improving student success.

Professional discussions or ‘check-ins’, using the interim review function within the staff portfolio, have become more regular and ongoing in colleges. They are no longer about just setting targets, mid-year review and an end-of-year evaluation. These discussions focus on why and how classroom learning is progressing, identify potential barriers to learning, as well as what is happening to the teachers themselves.

Ideally, the discussion is deemed as positive conversations that consider how to stretch the performance of a committed colleague but also can be used to inform colleagues that their performance requires immediate improvement.

Approach the professional discussions with the mindset of what will inspire the person to improve. We recommend a culture of regular and supportive dialogue, through ‘interim reviews’ to outline progress and areas of improvement. Focused support mechanisms, through professional discussions, mean that a colleague feels well supported and can develop their skills and achieve their targets.

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Customer Spotlight

See how the International College of Luxembourg uses the professional discussion feature to achieve their goal of enhancing staff professional development through good communication. CollegeiP has been an integral part of ISL’s journey in improving staff professional development.

The implementation process went very smoothly. ISL already had a professional growth model in place and so transferring this into SchooliP was quite easy. SchooliP have been very responsive to all of the changes that ISL required as an international school.

The implementation process went very smoothly. ISL already had a professional growth model in place and so transferring this into SchooliP was quite easy. SchooliP have been very responsive to all of the changes that ISL required as an international school (rather than a UK curriculum school).

Erica Bastian, Head of Human Resources

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