Taking the Pressure off Teaching Staff with On-demand, Tailored CPD - SECG’s Success Story

South Essex Colleges Group (SECG) is one of the largest further education providers in the region, with five campuses serving a diverse community of over 10,000 students. The college offers a wide range of vocational and academic programs, including apprenticeships, higher education courses, and adult learning opportunities. SECG is renowned for its commitment to delivering high-quality education and supporting students in developing the skills they need to succeed in their future careers.

However, with over 400 educators working across five sites, in recent years, SECG faced several critical challenges in supporting teacher development and improving the overall quality of teaching and learning.

One of the main issues SECG faced was its blanket, prescriptive approach to professional development, which placed significant pressure on the teaching and learning team. As Aimee Bose, Deputy Executive Director of Teaching and Technology, explains, ​“The development of teachers was largely prescriptive through a cross-college CPD plan, which placed much pressure on our team as each teacher’s development journey is unique.”

In addition, teachers themselves struggled to balance the development of their subject expertise and their pedagogical skills — known as dual professionalism. SECG wanted teachers to continually grow in both areas, but it was difficult for them to find the time within their already packed schedules. As Aimee highlights, ​“We wanted staff to continually develop their dual professionalism, but it seemed hard to fit this in with time constraints of a typical week..”

Following an Ofsted rating of Grade 3 Requires Improvement (RI), it became clear that SECG needed a new approach to professional development — one that would not only improve the quality of lessons across the entire college but also offer more personalised support for every teacher. SECG needed a solution that could empower staff to take ownership of their professional development while ensuring consistency in teaching quality across the college group.

To address these challenges, SECG implemented the HOW2 Platform, which provided an innovative solution for the delivery of on-demand, personalised support. By offering easy-to-learn evidence-based teaching techniques that educators could access anytime, the platform not only saved teachers valuable time but also empowered them to adapt their strategies to meet the diverse needs of their students.

SECG was committed to making full use of the HOW2 Platform from the outset, and the Teaching and Learning team built a structured approach for its implementation. The platform was launched at the beginning of the academic year with the ​‘HOW2 Reflect’ initiative, which provided teachers an opportunity to evaluate their strengths and identify areas for improvement. Using the Barriers to Progress Questionnaire, each teacher set their own personal HOW2 goals to kick off the year.

To further support this initiative, SECG designated one hour each month for teachers to focus on their HOW2 development. These dedicated sessions, held on Fridays, allowed staff to explore their HOW2s, adjust their goals, and share insights about what worked and why with their colleagues. The Teaching and Learning team facilitated these sessions, ensuring teachers received guidance and support as they navigated the platform. 

SECG also launched its Learning System — ​‘Structure of a Lesson’ alongside the platform, embedding three specific HOW2 techniques — Entry Routines, Desk Work, and Exit Routines — to provide a consistent lesson structure for all staff. These foundational techniques ensured that all staff, especially new members, had a unified starting point while still benefiting from personalised professional development through the platform.

SECG also embedded the HOW2 Platform into its quality processes and observation strategy. For all formal observations and lesson visits, the relevant HOW2 techniques were linked to each teacher’s areas for development. After each observation, the observer used the platform’s nudge feature to send personal HOW2 techniques directly related to the areas identified for development. The nudge feature helps maintain coaching relationships by providing subtle reminders that build on previous sessions. This continuous engagement fosters ongoing professional development and helps ensure that progress stays on track.

These development areas were closely tracked and monitored by management teams. From April to June, SECG conducted a development and progress monitoring phase, during which managers performed follow-up lesson visits focused on the HOW2 techniques selected for each teacher. This allowed the college to closely monitor progress, with 87% of teachers showing improvement in their development areas during this period.

The HOW2 Platform also facilitated a collaborative culture through its **Notes Sharing** feature. Teachers were encouraged to document their experiences and share insights across departments, with some strategies generating as many as 45 shared notes. This feature played a crucial role in building a strong community of learning, where staff could learn from one another’s experiences and tailor their strategies to meet individual student needs.

The HOW2 Platform also facilitated a collaborative culture through its notes feature. Teachers were encouraged to document their experiences and share insights across departments, with some strategies generating as many as 45 shared notes. This feature played a crucial role in building a strong community of learning, where staff could learn from one another’s experiences and tailor their strategies to meet individual student needs.

The integration of the HOW2 Platform has had a profound impact on teaching quality and staff retention at SECG:

• Improved Student Outcomes: Student achievement has improved across all levels, with last year’s results showing notable increases in performance.

• Enhanced Staff Retention: Staff retention has improved for two consecutive years, with new staff rating the HOW2 induction process highly (4.8÷5) for its effectiveness in supporting their professional growth.

• Recognition of Improvements: Recent evaluations have highlighted significant enhancements in teaching and learning, with particular praise for the role of HOW2 in driving these positive changes.

As Aimee explains, the HOW2 platform has become an integral part of SECG’s day-to-day processes: ​“HOW2 has become part of our language. It’s not just about improving teaching; it’s about creating a culture where continuous growth and collaboration are at the heart of what we do.”

Conclusion: Building a Culture of Continuous Growth

The HOW2 Platform has enabled SECG to transform its approach to teaching and learning. By providing personalised, on-demand professional development and encouraging staff collaboration, the college has created a strong foundation for future success.

“Our CPD is now more streamlined and individualised. Staff are working on their own journeys as dual professionals, and when something works, we share it to give our learners the best experience possible.”

• Aimee Bose

With plans to extend the platform’s use to SECG’s Higher Education schools, the college continues to foster a learning culture that supports both educators and students.