“Teachers should have to prove their subject knowledge is up-to-date at regular intervals to maintain their qualified status”
Professor Daniel Muijs , Ofsted, Head of Research
Are you Planning your Trust wide Staff CPD Development Days?
If you are currently planning for staff CPD developments sessions for the remainder of this academic year and/or September 2025, we will be pleased to work with you to create a bespoke staff development day tailored to your needs.
Our inhouse team of experts have the spotlight on the current most relevant and asked for key issues, opportunities and challenges that academies are wanting to focus on.
“It was exceptionally useful, highly relevant & personalised to our school. I cannot recommend highly enough!”
Dr Dawn Casserly, Headteacher, St. Paul’s School for Girls
Subject Specific Training
Teachers , especially in Secondary schools often cite subject-based CPD as more effective than generic training, as they can see a direct effect on their own teaching and therefore the attainment of the classes that they teach; certainly teachers enjoy training within their subject discipline and there are certainly instances where there would be little point in doing generic training – in areas such as exam technique for example.
MATs can use economies of scale to focus on Subject Knowledge & Pedagogical development
Multi-academy trusts are in a unique position to be able to provide trust wide subject knowledge & pedagogy CPD during their INSET days.
Focus on your priorities and key areas, including, but not limited to…
We can draw on our extensive database of specialist subject associates to arrange simultaneous training days for MATs, collegiates or other school groups with multiple sites. Often these are arranged with a common themes which is explored in depth in practical workshops within each GCSE or A level subject discipline, for example:
- Consistency of the quality of teaching & learning across the curriculum
- Stretch and challenge
- Supporting Neurodiverse learners
- Improving the level of teaching pedagogy
- Raising attainment
- Metacognitive strategies in the classroom
- Adaptive teaching strategies
- Improving assessment and feedback to drive up performance
Ofsted Inspections of Academies
The current Ofsted framework focuses on the academy’s curriculum, where, in graded inspections the subject based deep dives play a crucial role in determining the quality of education grade.
Arrange for a Mock Deep Dive in your school or subject area
Contact our Inspection team to arrange a ‘Mentoring Dive’ to reassure your team & allay any fears
JMC Inspection Team
Subject knowledge & pedagogy has become more important as inspectors will need to understand the rationale behind the choice & sequence of the curriculum as well as the subject specific pedagogy applied in the classroom . Subject leaders and coordinators have never had a greater responsibility for ensuring progress in skills, knowledge and understanding from different starting points in their subject areas.
Why is Subject Knowledge & Pedagogy so important?
Research also shows that strong subject knowledge contributes significantly to outstanding teaching pedagogy. In a review of research behind effective teaching, Coe et al. ((Coe et al., 2014), p. 2) found that a teacher’s subject knowledge, and their understanding of how pupils handle this subject, has strong evidence of impact on student outcomes. Teacher credibility ( the belief and trust pupils have for their teacher) scores and effect size of 0.9 in Hattie’s Visible Learning which is (almost) equivalent to a two grade leap in GCSE grades! We can see this need for excellent subject knowledge in Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction (Rosenshine, 2012). Like Coe’s work, this looked at the defining characteristics of effective teaching and found, among other things, that effective teachers were able to provide detailed explanations of the material they were teaching.
Our subject specific courses are delivered by experts in their field with insight, depth and passion. They are designed to help your in-service teachers update or develop their current subject knowledge or to train to teach other specialist subjects. As a departmental or whole school training event they give an invaluable opportunity to foster expertise and academic rigour.
Our subject-specific courses can cover changes in exam expectations, support teachers delivering in a subject area they are less familiar with and provide a range of strategies and approaches to bring a subject to life.
Why choose Subject Knowledge training for Teachers?
Our subject knowledge courses will help your teachers:
- Allows teachers to incorporate new content, methodologies, and resources into their teaching
- Gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject and associated specialist pedagogy
- Develop critical reflection skills
- Gain confidence in applying research based strategies to their classroom teaching
- Discover innovative ideas, techniques and activities to use in the classroom
A selection of our subject enriching courses are listed below but if you can’t find the area you are looking for use our enquiry form and we can source a lead practitioner to meet your needs.
“I really appreciated how organic the delivery was”
Shelley Chapman, Head of Teaching & Learning, The Marist School
Subject Knowledge Courses
Subject Knowledge & Pedagogy INSET for Multi-Academy Trusts
“Teachers should have to prove their subject knowledge is up-to-date at regular intervals to maintain their qualified status” Professor Daniel Muijs , Ofsted, Head of Research Are you Planning your…
Primary INSET : Challenging High Achievers in Maths lessons
I feel particularly inspired. Unlike many courses, this felt achievable. Alison Tanner, Year 5/6 Teacher Cameley Primary School Maths is an exciting subject. The National Curriculum provides a framework to…
INSET : Improving Reading in Secondary Schools
‘Really helpful – lots of ideas regarding whole school literacy, as well as in department. An excellent understanding / knowledge of how the Ofsted framework will impact schools – thank…
Secondary INSET : Outstanding Maths Teaching
“Superbly clear, inspiring, and backed by outstanding subject knowledge.”Tom Bowley, Millfield School, Head of Maths Please follow and like us:
Science INSET : Challenging able pupils in Science
“Impactful , positive & inspiring – highly recommended “ Jenny Carruthers HOD , Cleeve School The PISA 2022 report reveals that in the UK, 10% of students were top performers…
INSET: Reasoning in EYFS and KS1 Maths
Coming away from the KS1 Maths reasoning course I felt inspired to share the guidance and motivate staff at my school to integrate and teach reasoning. I love how we…
INSET: Developing Reasoning in KS2 Maths
A great hands-on course with valuable messages of how to deepen reasoning in KS2 Maths with all abilities. The children are already reasoning at a deeper level in such a…
INSET: Building confidence in KS3 & 4 Physics teaching
This INSET builds subject knowledge, confidence and pedagogy for those teaching KS3 and KS4 Physics without a Physics specialism. Non- specialist teachers in Science at Key stage 3 &4 Science…
INSET: Challenging the most able Physics students
Does your teaching stretch the most able Physics students? Are your students able to access top marks in public exams? Are you preparing your students to study Physical Science and…
Literacy opinion: Closing the Vocabulary Word Gap
“Nothing matters more than words.” Geoff Barton (General Secretary, ASCL) Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there were concerns about literacy & vocabulary barriers to the curriculum, with a quarter of students…
INSET: Primary Science Investigation & Scientific Enquiry
For primary school children to operate as successful scientists, they should be taught a wide range of essential science investigation & enquiry skills. These skills should build upon earlier opportunities…
INSET: Improving Memory & Learning with Cognitive Science
“Incredibly engaging and Inspiring” Katherine Letts, Assistant Head, St Laurence School Teachers of all subjects can benefit from Cognitive Science. It includes two disciplines: cognitive neuroscience, which looks at how…
Ofsted INSET : Preparing for an English Deep Dive
“Really useful for what a deep dive means and what to say to Ofsted” Justin Jones, Head of English, KLB School The Ofsted Ready English Department: Preparing for a Deep…
Ofsted INSET : Preparing for a Science Deep Dive
“Absolutely brilliant, I feel so much more informed and energised” Katherine Letts, Director of Science ( Core Leadership Group) , St Laurence School Ofsted Ready Science Teaching : Preparing for…
INSET : Raising Achievement in Primary Literacy & Reading
“Thank you again for the INSET on the Primary Curriculum, the staff were buzzing afterwards! “ Karen Coles, Director of Studies, Fulham Prep School Supporting a rich and ambitious Primary…
INSET: Improving Literacy through Metacognitive Strategies
“Fab ! Best thing I’ve ever been on”. N. Betts, Assistant Head, Sandbach High School Support your pupils to embrace metacognitive strategies to improve literacy outcomes. How can we get…
Ofsted INSET : Preparing for a Maths Deep Dive
“Thank you, you made everything seem less scary” Richard Stubbs, Head of Maths, Abbey Park School The Ofsted Ready Maths Department: Preparing for a Deep Dive The current Ofsted framework…
INSET : Challenging able Chemistry students to reach their true potential
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Science INSET: Outstanding Science lessons
‘Schools need to raise pupils’ aspirations and enjoyment of science and ensure that they nurture the talents of our potential young scientists of the future.’ Ofsted Report ‘Success in Science’…
INSET: Metacognition in STEM / Science / Maths Teaching
“Left inspired!” Kim Carmichael, Head of Science, Longcroft School Train your pupils to think for themselves • Do your pupils prefer recalling information to “real” thinking? • Are you fed-up…
Secondary INSET : Raising Attainment in Biology A level
“Left inspired!” Kim Carmichael, Head of Science, Longcroft School Improving the performance of lower attaining A level Biology students How do you make the new Biology specifications more accessible to…
INSET: Developing a Knowledge Rich Curriculum in Science
“Really engaging tutor who clearly knew his stuff” Sadia Mirza, HOD, Dr Challoners High School Please follow and like us:
INSET : Improving Boys Literacy & Reading
Highly engaging and motivated the staff Rochelle Thompson, Deputy Head, Kings School Boys Literacy : History of Underachievement Boys’ underachievement in literacy is a significant concern for schools across the…
Secondary INSET : A/A* Strategies for Biology A level
Challenging able Biology students to reach their true potential “Really worthwhile and applicable, felt like I was actually learning something!” Jack White-Foy, Dulwich College Does your Biology teaching really stretch…
