Why did you choose to partner with Best Practice Network for your CPD needs?

GEMS Winchester School Dubai (WSD) is an international school located in Dubai, home to 4,200 students, with approximately 250 teachers and leaders. We deliver a modified version of the NCfE and pride ourselves on being an inclusive school with nearly 100 different nationalities represented in our community.

As a ‘learning school,’ professional learning and development (PLD) is a high priority for us. Many of our teachers and Middle Leaders join with limited experience of a ‘British’ approach to pedagogy. Ensuring every teacher or leader has access to high-quality PLD is essential for delivering a quality ‘British’ educational experience to our students and their families.

While we had prioritized PLD opportunities for our teachers, we recognized the need for structured PLD routes for our Middle and Senior Leaders. The National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), with their focus on embedding learning over time, aligned with our pedagogical approach and provided a pathway to enhance leadership capacity within our school.

We chose to partner with Best Practice Network (BPN) for two key reasons:

1. Strong Reputation: BPN has a proven track record of delivering high-quality PLD. Members of our Senior Leadership Team had previously experienced success with NPQSL and NPQH through BPN.
2. Collaborative Partnership: BPN’s willingness to enter into a partnership with WSD allowed our Senior Leadership Team to facilitate the delivery of a range of NPQs within our context.

Experience & Impact

How did your team find the learning and development experience with our programs?

Feedback from our NPQ participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Whether studying for a specialist course or a leadership course, staff have valued the opportunity to develop their skills through a blend of face-to-face and online activities.

The quality of resources, access to the latest education research, and the inclusion of online coaching and reflective activities have been frequently highlighted in participant feedback. These elements have been instrumental in supporting staff as they advance through their NPQ journey.

It has been particularly rewarding to witness colleagues who joined our school as teachers transition into Middle and Senior Leadership roles. This progression is a testament, in part, to the professional learning and development opportunities provided by BPN. Since August 2023, approximately 50 leaders at WSD have either completed or begun an NPQ with Best Practice Network, which has directly contributed to the improved quality of education we deliver.

Results & Success

What positive changes or successes have you observed since partnering with Best Practice Network?

Our engagement with NPQs delivered by Best Practice Network has unquestionably enhanced WSD’s leadership capacity. Notably, it has improved the quality of discussions at Middle and Senior Leadership levels, as NPQ participants have gained confidence in applying evidence-based strategies to improve learning, teaching, and student outcomes.

More importantly, the impact of these improvements is evident in the quality of education we provide for our students. The development of leadership knowledge and skills has had a ripple effect, fostering a culture of excellence across the school.

Endorsement & Recommendation

Would you recommend Best Practice Network to other organizations seeking effective leadership training solutions?

Without hesitation, I encourage other school leadership teams to invest in leadership training for their Middle and Senior Leaders through Best Practice Network.

The team at BPN consistently goes above and beyond to provide support, ensuring that any concerns are promptly addressed. Their approach makes you feel more like colleagues than customers, and the partnership has been instrumental in enhancing our school’s leadership and professional development initiatives.