Think back to your own school days. You probably don’t remember every worksheet, school trip, or every test score. But you’ll remember your teachers. The ones who believed in you, and made learning exciting. Because here’s the truth every parent instinctively knows: The single biggest factor influencing your child’s success at school is the quality of their teachers. One study found that just one year with a very effective maths teacher can lead to pupils making 40% more progress than if they are taught by an ineffective one. That’s not a small margin, that’s a different trajectory. So the real question isn’t just: Are your child’s teachers good? It’s also:
How do you know they’ll always be exceptional?
At Nord Anglia schools, teacher professional development is structured, global, and embedded into school life. Every school invests locally in its teachers. But being part of a global family brings something powerful: shared expertise and learning across 89 schools in 37 countries worldwide. Through Nord Anglia University, the international education group’s professional learning platform, nearly 100% of teachers have accessed development this year, with thousands of teachers engaging every month on honing their teaching skills. But this isn’t abstract theory. “We start with the theory and we look at the research,” says Jenny McWalter, Nord Anglia’s Group Head of School Professional Learning, “but our main focus is putting it into practice because what teachers want to know is ‘How will this help me in the classroom?’” Being part of a global community of educators means that teachers also learn directly from one another. “It holds a mirror up to your own practice,” says Adam Lewis, a primary English as an Additional Language teacher at Nord Anglia’s British International School Hanoi. “By observing other teachers, you soak it all up.” And across its global network of schools, Nord Anglia’s Teaching Fellows share expertise between schools, ensuring innovation doesn’t stay in one classroom. It spreads.
Dr Claudia Costin, member of Nord Anglia Education’s Education Advisory Board, has studied what most affects student achievement. “The point is that this can be improved, not only through making the career attractive, but through professional development. If we continually emphasise the importance of classroom practice and develop a dialogue between theory and practice, it has the power to create much better teachers.” Teacher quality is not fixed. It can be strengthened. Which is why Nord Anglia’s schools take professional development seriously to give children a long-term advantage.
This commitment becomes especially visible when schools introduce new curriculum. At Nord Anglia’s Hamelin-Laie International School in Barcelona, teachers are being trained on International Curriculum Association programmes across all age groups. To protect professional learning time, the school restructured its week. On Fridays, lessons finish at three o’clock, giving teachers two hours of compulsory development and planning. “We recognise and value the fact that if we want change to happen, we have to change our structures to make it happen. Parents have also been very supportive of this move,” says Principal Sarah Osborne-James. She is clear about why it matters: “There is a clear link between academic outcomes and the knowledge and expertise of the teacher. If we want to raise academic standards, but also students’ social and emotional development, we must equip teachers with the right tools and skills and ensure these are continually updated”.
When comparing schools, many factors come into play. But if you want to understand long-term student success, ask: How does this school really develop its teachers? Because: • Confident teachers create confident learners. • Skilled teachers personalise learning more effectively. • Motivated teachers inspire curiosity. • Supported teachers stay and grow.
At Nord Anglia, teachers’ professional development is part of the fabric of every school. Because great teachers make great schools. Discover the Advantage of Outstanding Teaching Explore Nord Anglia schools worldwide and see how our commitment to teacher professional development creates exceptional learning environments.
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