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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CPD Sparks?

CPD Sparks is an online professional development platform created to make high-quality staff development easier for busy school leaders.

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Designed by a serving headteacher, CPD Sparks provides ready-to-use, research-informed CPD resources that can be built into staff meetings, briefings and professional development sessions.

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Our approach is simple: small steps, stronger practice. Rather than overwhelming staff with large-scale changes, each Spark focuses on manageable ideas that can be discussed, reflected upon and put into practice.

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Who is CPD Sparks for?

CPD Sparks is designed for schools and education settings looking for high-quality, ready-to-use professional development. Our ever growing library currently includes content across a range of areas, including:

• Teacher Sparks

• Teaching Assistant Sparks

• EYFS Sparks

• Inclusion Sparks

• Behaviour Sparks

Resources can be used with whole staff teams or selected for particular groups depending on your school's priorities.

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What do I get when my school becomes a member?

Your annual membership gives your school access to the full CPD Sparks resource library available as part of your subscription. You are not subscribing to just one topic or CPD series. Once you become a member, you can access resources across all of our available topic themes, giving leaders the flexibility to select CPD that reflects their school's current priorities.

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Can I see the resources before subscribing?

Yes. We want schools to understand exactly what they are signing up for. The first session from every topic is available as a free download on our website. This gives you the opportunity to explore the format, quality and approach of CPD Sparks before becoming a member. There is no obligation to subscribe after accessing a free session.

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How long is a CPD Sparks subscription?

CPD Sparks is an annual subscription. When your school signs up, you are purchasing access for one year from the date your membership begins. Your membership provides access to the CPD Sparks library throughout your subscription period.

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Does my subscription automatically renew?

Yes. CPD Sparks memberships are annual subscriptions and will automatically renew each year unless you contact us to cancel before your renewal date.

This means your school can continue accessing CPD Sparks without interruption.

We recommend ensuring the contact and billing information associated with your membership remains up to date.

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Can I cancel my subscription?

You can contact us at any point to request that your subscription does not renew for a further year.

Cancelling your renewal does not end your current membership early. Your school will continue to have access until the end of the annual subscription period already purchased.

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Do you offer refunds?

As CPD Sparks provides immediate access to a digital library of downloadable professional development resources, annual subscriptions are generally non-refundable once access has been provided.

We therefore encourage schools to explore our free sample sessions before purchasing a membership to ensure CPD Sparks is right for their setting. This does not affect any statutory rights that may apply.

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How long does each CPD Spark take?

CPD Sparks has been designed to fit realistically into the working life of a school.

The core CPD element is intentionally concise and can be used to introduce or develop an area of practice within a staff meeting. Rather than trying to transform practice through one lengthy training session, we encourage schools to use Sparks regularly, making one small tweak at a time and allowing those changes to build over time.

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Do I have to follow the sessions in order?

Not necessarily. Many of our resources are organised into linked series and schools may choose to work through these sequentially. However, leaders can also select individual Sparks or themes that respond directly to their school's development priorities. CPD Sparks is designed to be flexible enough to work around your school, rather than asking your school to work around the platform.

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What is included with each Spark?

Our Sparks combine ready-to-use professional development materials with opportunities for discussion, reflection and practical application. Sessions typically include research-informed content, safeguarding discussion opportunities, practical strategies, links to further evidence or resources, and a reflection or action that helps staff connect professional development with everyday practice. Resources may also include accompanying scripts or narrated content where available, helping leaders deliver CPD confidently while reducing preparation time.

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Why does CPD Sparks include safeguarding questions?

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and we believe it should remain at the forefront of professional conversations throughout the school year - not simply during annual safeguarding training. That is why safeguarding prompts are built into our approach. They provide regular opportunities for staff to revisit their knowledge, discuss scenarios and keep safeguarding thinking active.

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Is CPD Sparks based on educational research?

Yes. Our resources are designed to be research-informed while remaining practical and accessible.

Where appropriate, Sparks draw upon established educational evidence, guidance and research and provide links for leaders or staff who would like to explore an area in greater depth.

Our aim isn't to simply present research. It is to help schools consider what that research might mean for everyday practice.

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Can I download the presentations?

Members can access and download the resources made available within their membership area for use within their own school or setting. Resources are provided for the subscribing organisation and should not be shared with other schools, organisations or individuals outside that organisation.

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Can I edit the CPD Sparks resources?

We recognise that every school is different and leaders may want to connect professional development to their own context, policies and priorities. Where editable resources are provided, schools are welcome to adapt them for internal use within their subscribing organisation.

CPD Sparks materials should not be republished, redistributed, resold or shared outside the subscribing organisation.

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Can several members of staff use the resources?

Yes. A school subscription is designed to support professional development across the subscribing school or setting.

Leaders can use appropriate resources with different staff groups, departments or teams within that organisation.

Membership access and resources should not, however, be shared with another school or organisation.

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What happens when you add new CPD content?

One of the benefits of membership is that CPD Sparks is designed to continue growing. As new eligible resources and topic areas are added to the CPD Sparks membership library, current members will be able to access them as part of their active subscription unless a resource is specifically identified as a separate product or service.

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What if I can't find the CPD topic my school needs?

Tell us!

CPD Sparks is being developed for real schools, so we want our future content to reflect what leaders and staff actually need. If you cannot find a particular topic, complete the Content Request Form on our website and tell us what you would like to see. We review requests when planning future Sparks and topic themes. While we cannot guarantee that every requested topic will be produced, your suggestions will directly help inform the future development of the platform.

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Is CPD Sparks suitable for primary and secondary schools?

CPD Sparks includes resources designed for different phases, roles and professional development needs. Although primarily designed by a Primary Expert - a lot of the content is appropriate cross phase. Individual resources will make clear where content is particularly relevant to a specific phase or audience, allowing leaders to choose the most appropriate Sparks for their setting.

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Who creates CPD Sparks?

CPD Sparks has been created by a serving headteacher who understands the realities of leading professional development in a busy school. The idea grew from the challenge of finding the time each week to research, prepare and deliver meaningful CPD alongside everything else that comes with school leadership.

CPD Sparks exists to take some of that preparation off leaders' plates - without reducing the quality or impact of professional development.

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What makes CPD Sparks different?

We don't believe effective professional development has to mean another initiative, another enormous document or another hour-long presentation. CPD Sparks is built around a different philosophy:

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Small steps. Stronger practice.

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Focused professional development creates a starting point for professional conversation. Staff then have the opportunity to reflect, try something in practice and build upon their learning over time.

For leaders, that means less time creating CPD from scratch.

For staff, it means professional development that feels manageable and relevant.

And for schools, it means creating a culture where professional learning happens consistently - one Spark at a time.

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