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Active Learning Institute (ALI) is the professional learning and development arm of Active Learning Trust, which exists to help people at every stage of their career grow with confidence, purpose and support - from those taking their first steps into teaching to experienced colleagues looking to deepen their expertise or move into leadership.

At Active Learning Trust, we believe the best way to improve schools is to invest deeply in the people who work in them. That means creating the conditions to form long-term professional growth: clear pathways, high-quality development, meaningful collaboration and the time, trust and support people need to thrive.

ALI brings together professional learning across the Trust into one connected and coherent approach. From teacher training and leadership development to coaching, working groups, apprenticeships and specialist programmes, our work is designed to strengthen practice, grow talent and support sustainable school improvement.

Everything we do is rooted in the realities of schools. Our programmes are shaped by evidence, refined through practice and developed by people who understand the day-to-day opportunities and challenges of working in education. We believe professional learning should feel practical, relevant and purposeful, and should be built around the people it is designed to support.

While much of our work is focused on supporting colleagues across Active Learning Trust, our aim is to develop approaches that strengthen schools and professional practice across the wider sector, contributing to a brighter and more sustainable future for education.

Find out more about this year's professional development offer and upcoming training events:

View Professional Development booklet

Browse online Training Calendar

CPD and Training Opportunities

Click on one of the categories below to find out more:

Flagship Programmes

Systems & Tools Training

Professional Networks

Professional Development

NPQs

ECT Programme

Leaders to Learners

This video portrays how support travels from our CEO and Executive Leadership Team all the way through to our classrooms and how our commitment to investing in leadership empowers every teacher and, ultimately, every pupil. By focusing on professional development, we're creating happier teams and brighter futures for the children we serve.

Why is CPD so Important?

Pupil Outcomes
When it comes to improving outcomes, no other factor comes close to the quality of teaching. For disadvantaged pupils, the impact is even greater.

Teacher Effectiveness
After just three years in service, teacher effectiveness plateaus. Further improvement is minimal until the tenth year of service. With the right development, most teachers can be as good as the very best.

Retention & Progression
A school that invests in high-quality CPD is likely to retain more teachers. Given the current significant retention and recruitment challenges, this is vital for schools.

References: Burgess 2014, Hanushek 2014, Kraft & Papay 2014, Wiliam 2016, Andrews, Gilbert & Martin 2007