Collaborating with colleagues for professional development

Peer support is a common feature for effective continuous professional development and learning (CPDL). It can take many forms including shared planning, peer observation, collaborative work scrutiny, structured research lesson study and/or collaborative action research. It also contributes to the development of a culture of professional learning and a shared sense of purpose. The shared vulnerability and sense of purpose that comes as you and your colleagues work together helps you to take risks by experimenting with new approaches and examining what does and does not work in different contexts. This culture should include school leaders: effective leaders do not leave the learning to their teachers—they become involved in experimenting with practice and modelling professional learning. Collaboration in peer support is necessary, but is not sufficient on its own. Where collaboration is the only focus, learning is limited. Collegial support, together with input from an expert lead