The PTI
Inspiring teachers. Changing lives.
We provide professional development for teachers.
https://www.ptieducation.org
- 🔦 Our second Spotlight School this half-term is Bradfields Academy, Fortis Trust. Principal David Waters tells us they aim to be a leading centre of excellence in the Special Education Sector. Part of this is working with The PTI, as a member of our Medway & Kent Primary Hub.
- For example, a recent Hub day saw teachers participate in workshops with an expert from DTAssociation. And D&T teacher Mr Walker presented his accessible classroom, ft. adaptations like wheelchair-accessible benches and bespoke tools for students who struggle with holding the standard versions.
- David tells us that The PTI has had a significant impact on staff teaching practices - implementing their Hub-day findings, staff are more confident in thinking outside of the box and using unique approaches to engage students in their lessons. 🌟 #UKEd 🔗 Read his article here: bit.ly/3SZJ1ii
- 🎉 The PTI Co-Director, Carolyn Roberts, MBE, was named in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours on Friday! Carolyn has championed ethical leadership in education for decades including as head of Thomas Tallis school – it's a well-deserved honour.
- Her fellow Co-Director Hugh Rayment-Pickard said, ‘I am thrilled to see my colleague Carolyn Roberts, MBE, named in the 2025 Birthday Honours! This honour is thoroughly deserved recognition of her remarkable service to education.’ More here: bit.ly/44bUVLk 📷 PTI Leadership Residential, York 2025
- This week, The PTI Subject Enrichment Residential reached over 100 bookings! 🎉 This is a really exciting milestone, and with teachers of six subjects attending – Art, English, Maths, Music, PE, Science – we’re gearing up for a rich, interesting and busy three days of learning.
- 🌟 It’s taking place at the University of York 5-7 July. Places are filling up – but we’d love you to attend as well. Teachers, find out more and book on our website. #UKEd
- This month, we'll be joined by Professor Iain Stewart for a CPD day all about geology 🪨 For Geography & Science teachers who want to learn more about geology, The PTI are bringing together a number of experts for a full day of discussion: Professor Iain Stewart, Dave Jones, & John Wilkinson.
- We’re really excited for this day – it’s taking place on Monday 30th June at our Hintze Rooms in Victoria. You can sign up via our website!
- 🎷 Can music play an important role in the classroom? Next week, we’re exploring this question with our online course La Música. Like all our courses, it’s designed by teachers, with expert research. So Dr Stuart Green, Senior Lecturer & Jemma Marshall, Head of Spanish are joining us! #UKEd
- Yesterday, a sunny day in Edinburgh, The PTI attended The People's Postcode Lottery Charity Gathering. Celebrating a milestone of £1.5 billion raised by players for good causes, the amazing things that charities have done with those funds, and different ways to communicate the impact of this work!
- ✨This week at The PTI we’ve run two online courses for secondary teachers and two training days for primary teachers. Our days ran in Manchester on Geography & History. 100% agreed that attending gave them the knowledge & skills to be a better teacher - and would have an impact on their pupils!
- Online courses: 🎶 Breadth vs depth on the Music Curriculum - to enable all children to create music. 🤖 How can History teachers engage in AI? - discussing the value and skill of the historian, how to establish fact, ethical & social insights, & using AI to benefit lesson planning.
- One attendee told us, 🗣️'This was a very interesting course and I enjoyed being able to listen to other Music teachers’ ideas. We all don't often get a chance to interact. A lot of us even work in single-person departments.'
- From designing 3D printed cookie cutters, making a Soma Puzzle on Tinker CAD, and making Cam mechanisms, EMMAUS primary teachers have loads of new activities to bring into the classroom - plus, talks and workshops on the DT curriculum to bring it all together.
- Here's a cam - we've just learned that they're a mechanism turning a rotary motion into a linear one! It's subject-specific knowledge like this that enables amazing teaching 🔨📷 🪚
- Some really great photos from today's Primary Hub in Manchester! 🏵 The subject was Geography. Working with our brilliant Teacher Leader John, our EMMAUS primary teachers took part in interactive activities which can be brought into the classroom. #UKEd
- 'The speaker was engaging, passionate, extremely knowledgeable and welcoming. I am taking away a wealth of information with me today which I can implement in my teaching and share with my staff.' Thanks John + our EMMAUS primary teachers! 🔨🪛🧰⚙️ A little hint for the subject of tomorrow's Hub...
- Day 3 of our Leadership Programme is underway! The aim is to focus on whole school leadership to drive and support the improvement of education for all children regardless of background or ability. Today, the focus will be 'Leading People: Diversity and Community'. #UKEd
- 🗣️ Professor Zachary Walker on generational leading and learning, and Jessica Cecil on the view from W1A. @drzacharywalker.bsky.social
- With Dr Tim Mills from STEP Academy, primary teachers from Clegheads are taking part in our subject-specific training. ✍️ Today is all about Writing with an overview of the Writing Framework, workshops about teaching children to write (is it just too difficult?), and planning to teach writing!
- Today, we're running music training with primary school teachers in Brampton and Carlisle! With James Slimings, Education and Outreach Manager at Hatfield House, some really exciting activities to bring into the classroom.
- Some really exciting feedback from this day.🎶 A massive thanks to our speakers and the teachers who attended!
- The Subject Enrichment Residential is transformational for those teachers who attend. “It has made me reconnect with the subject content. I genuinely feel excited by some of the questions the course has raised and I intend to bring many of the ideas shared and generated to my classroom.” #UKEd
- In 2024, we ran our first ever Subject Enrichment Residential for PE. It was so successful that this year’s residential is also running for PE teachers! Speakers will include Dr Tom Quarmby, @drtomq.bsky.social, Dr. Ffion Thompson, Kyle Taylor & more TBA – you can book your place on our website.
- What is The PTI? 👨🏫 The PTI is a registered charity providing high-quality training for teachers. Our work improves the education that students receive and focuses on areas of disadvantage, which is where we can have the greatest impact. Find out more about our courses via our website!
- ☀️ Check out our English flyer for this summer's residential at the University of York. Working with subject experts means our programmes offer teachers the opportunity to mull over cutting-edge subject knowledge & important subject themes. Teachers can attend, collaborate & share their thoughts.
- For English, We'll hear from the following experts on Shakespeare, Gothic fiction, Renaissance lit & more: Dr Tracy Irish Dr @ezrahorbury.bsky.social Dr Deborah Russell Dr Bryan Radley Lizzie Lovejoy
- 🚀 Delivery of PTI programmes has recommenced after half-term! We’ve been in South London with primary teachers learning about computing from James Fraser, an EdTech & computing specialist. One attendee told us, there were ‘So many takeaways and points to share with the wider teams back at school.'
- Recently, Cliff attended our DT Subject Day on 'The Future of Textiles'. Fashion frictions, fabric innovations and creative projects are key knowledge for inspiring students. We’re thrilled to have his expertise behind our work as we expand to improve the education that all young people receive.
- Welcome back! We hope you had an enjoyable Easter period and a restful break. Summer term is kicking off, and to support teachers, The PTI are offering courses across a range of subjects – Maths, English, History, MFL, Science, DT, and more. Book on our website 🌟
- This week, we were at the National Education Union Conference @neunion.bsky.social. It was lovely to chat with so many people about what The PTI does - check out our stall here!
- #TBT The PTI Subject Enrichment Residential 2024! Our English keynote speaker Jeffrey Boakye on teacher identity and the curriculum, our co-director Carolyn Roberts welcoming attendees, and Dr Olivia Carpenter speaking to history teachers about rediscovering Black British History in the 19thc.
- In the words of one of the teachers who attended, ‘It has made me reconnect with the subject content. I genuinely feel excited by the questions the course has raised and I intend to bring many of the idea shared and generated to my classroom.’ #UKEd
- Three Primary Hubs today! Brampton and Carlisle - their first CPD with The PTI - all about computing. John Jeffries sharing tons of different resources and websites for everyone to use when back at school.
- Recently we've welcomed three new trustees to The PTI. We're thrilled to have Jonathan Slater join our board. His expertise in education will be crucial as we reach more and more teachers every year with high-quality subject-specific training.
- Jonathan is a Visiting Professor at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social & @qmul.ac.uk. He was Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education until 2020, the conclusion of a 20yr civil service career. First he spent 10yrs in local government - but began as a mathematical modeller for British Rail!
- This week at The PTI we ran 1 CPD day, 2 Primary Hubs, & 3 online courses! 📚 History teachers heard about Chinese elite women & everyday Soviet life 🏛️ Leeds & Norfolk Primary Hubs developed History & Science with contested narratives, object work & enquiry💡+ Geography, Art, & English online courses
- Some fantastic feedback: ‘The speakers were knowledgeable and prepared excellent talks. They were engaging and were able to answer a range of questions which allowed us to consider how we might implement these in our curriculum.’ ‘This is one of the best courses I've attended!’ #UKEd
- March is International Women's Month... and bringing knowledge about how women have lived throughout history into the classroom is really important. Today we're discussing Gender Balance on the Curriculum with experts on women in Soviet Russia and Modern China - for a balanced curriculum! #UKEd
- Recently we've welcomed 3 new Trustees to The PTI. We're thrilled to have Katrina Morley OBE join our board. Katrina has 20+ years in education, including as CEO of Tees Valley Education Trust. Her expertise in tackling disadvantage, delivering an equal education for all children, is invaluable.
- 📍We're working in Leeds today. Here are some photos of our amazing guest speakers - Hugh Castle, Kate Burton, Kate Fellows @katehfellows.bsky.social - and teachers at our Leeds Primary Hub. They're learning about history! #UKEd
- Thanks to everyone who attended this session!
- We ran two Primary Hubs this week! Our Fortis Medway and Kent Primary Hub was on DT. Ryan Ball of DATA spoke about why we teach it, confidence with mechanisms, and adapting resources for SEND. John Walker, Bradfields Academy demonstrated how he has adapted tools so that no student is left behind. 🪚
- Tees Valley Hub Day, on RE: 'After listening to both speakers, I have an exciting outlook on RE. Our children will begin to develop a world view which will support them through their adult life. The information shared was incredible and a vast amount of resources. Thank you for an incredible day!'
- Also, 31 teachers attended our Victorian Literature in the 21st Century classroom Online Course 🏰 and this weekend is Day 3 of our New Teacher Subject Days programme, running in Manchester and Leeds - we're looking forward to it! ✨
- How can DT teachers make User-Centred Design central to their curriculum? 🤔 We’re bringing together some design experts for our upcoming CPD Day, all about User-Centred Design. Noah Abbott, Daniel Charny, Ant Johnson, and leading the course is Freddie Reay, Head of a D&T Department in Kent!
- Find out more and book your place here: www.ptieducation.org/event/a0sQt0... #UKEd
- This week, The PTI have provided training for 115 teachers 🎉 We’ve run four online courses and a CPD day about Creativity in Maths with our ambassador Marcus du Sautoy who spoke about his new book Blueprints and how mathematics shapes creativity - then teachers made some paper blueprints. #UKEd
- We are all set for the @ascl-uk.bsky.social Annual Conference @accliverpool.bsky.social Come as say hello to our team in the Exhibition Hall (stand B4) - we have loads of info, offers and a prize draw for conference delegates #ASCL2025
