Continuous Professional Development (CPD) policy

Policy statement 

As the only professional body for all teachers and trainers across the breadth of the FE and Training sector SET is committed to the ongoing professionalisation of the sector through the following three key pillars:  

• Professional Standards 
• Code of Ethics and Conduct 
• Continuing Professional Development of our members  

Membership of SET is a recognised benchmark of professionalism, illustrated through the various grades of membership and associated post-nominals. We set high standards of entry to membership which includes a clear commitment to continuing professional development and lifelong learning. 

Following the removal of the further education (FE) workforce regulations in 2012, it is no longer a mandatory requirement for all teachers and trainers in the Further Education and Training sector to make an annual and formal declaration of their CPD.   

However, SET strongly encourages its members, particularly those in the professional membership grades i.e. Associate, Member and Fellow, take appropriate steps to ensure they remain in good professional standing by staying up to date with their subject specialism, professional knowledge and competence and approaches to teaching and learning through a range of formal and informal CPD activities.  

In addition, SET members are required to abide by our Code of Ethics and Conduct which stipulates under Professional Competency, that members agree to “Maintain professional knowledge and competence through continuing professional development in both teaching and subject specialism”. 

By joining/renewing SET members are therefore agreeing to adhere to SET’s CPD policy requirements (unless exempt – see below).   

Scope 

The policy relates to all members in the professional grades of membership: 

• Associate – ASET 
• Member – MSET 
• Fellow – FSET 

Exemptions: members, who are not currently working and are subsequently on the concessionary rate of membership are not expected to undertake CPD. However the advantages of continuing with professional development to ensure competencies and skills are maintained is highly recommended. Retired members, students and affiliate members are also exempt.   

CPD requirements  

SET does not stipulate that a minimum number of CPD points or hours must be achieved each year. We are not looking for evidence of how much time has been spent on CPD.  

We firmly believe that CPD is a very personal journey which should focus on your own professional development needs and the results i.e. the outputs and outcomes of the activity undertaken and, most importantly, the difference it has had or is likely to have on your professional practice and ultimately your learners.   

Members are encouraged to reflect on their existing teaching practice and to consider where and how they would like their expertise to develop.  

Types of CPD

There is not a prescribed method for achieving CPD. Any activity which provides a professional development benefit to you would be considered as relevant CPD. However it is widely acknowledged that CPD falls into two distinct types – formal and informal.  

Formal CPD: formal CPD involves participating in organised activities, e.g. courses, training, professional formation (such as QTLS/ATS), normally where participation can be evidenced and there are clear learning objectives.  

Informal CPD: informal CPD involves activities such as reading (e.g. SET’s professional journal inTuition), researching information via the internet, reviewing books or articles for professional purposes, attending relevant events such as the SET annual conference plus participation in networks, communities of practice and special interest groups.  

Tracking your CPD

SET strongly encourages its members to track their CPD, both formal and informal via some sort of CPD log or tracker. Tracking or logging your CPD creates a record of the learning and development activities which have been undertaken and contributed to your annual CPD plan.  

A comprehensive log or tracker should provide space for reflection and evaluation of the activity undertaken. SET members have access to our online:  

• self-assessment tool, which is a quick and easy way to assess your current practice against the twenty Professional Standards to identify areas of development   
• CPD log (accessible via your My SET dashboard) which enables members to set and track CPD activity, and identify which relevant Professional Standard applies   

Date of next review January 2025