A CPD diary is a powerful tool to help you take ownership of and document your professional development.

As well as the basics of where and when, this free, editable CPD diary allows you to record the following information:

1. Learning outcomes: Reflect on what you learned from the CPD activity. Note down key takeaways, new skills acquired, or insights gained.
2. Relevance to practice: Consider how the CPD activity relates to your teaching practice. Reflect on how you can apply the learning in your classroom.
3. Impact on PD goals: Evaluate how the CPD activity contributes to your professional development goals. Did it address any areas of improvement you identified? How does it align with your career aspirations?
4. Resources: Keep track of any materials or resources provided during the CPD activity that you found useful. This might include handouts, presentations, recommended readings, or online resources.
5. Feedback and reflection: Record any feedback you received during the CPD activity, whether from peers, facilitators, or participants. Reflect on your own experience and what you could do differently next time.

Why keep a CPD diary?

Maintaining a CPD diary encourages you to reflect on your learning experiences, allowing you to deepen your understanding of new concepts, strategies, and approaches.

A CPD diary also provides a structured framework for setting and tracking your professional development goals. By documenting your learning objectives and progress, you can identify areas for growth and establish actionable steps to achieve your goals.

This accountability can be valuable for performance evaluations, career advancement, and maintaining professional standards.

In many schools you’ll need to provide evidence of your engagement in CPD activities. A CPD diary serves as a comprehensive document of your professional development journey. It demonstrates a proactive approach to staying updated with current educational trends, research and best practice.

CPD is often a great opportunity to network with colleagues and experts. Documenting these interactions and collaborations in a CPD diary can facilitate ongoing communication, knowledge sharing and collaborative initiatives to improve teaching practice and student outcomes in your school.

Beyond external validation, a CPD diary can also serve as a personal archive of your professional journey over time. It provides a valuable resource for self-assessment, career planning and documenting achievements, milestones and areas of growth.

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