Join the roundtable: Professional development for teachers

Across our global network, British Council Partner Schools are exploring new ways to enhance education through targeted professional development for teachers. With learning environments evolving rapidly, our teachers have never been more critical – not only to improve academic outcomes but also to nurture resilient, confident students ready for a changing world.

Through initiatives like the global Action Research programme and ongoing mentorship schemes, Partner Schools have already made great strides in developing impactful, evidence-based teaching strategies. 

Teacher effectiveness – and how to strengthen it through continuous professional development (CPD) – is also the central focus of the upcoming British Council Partner Schools roundtable. Among the voices at the event is Nayyab Farooq, an action researcher and mentor from Peshawar, Pakistan. We spoke to her to get her insights on the topics covered at the event and why teacher effectiveness remains an important part of the conversation.

Empowering girls and teachers through Action Research: Insights from Nayyab Farooq

Nayyab Farooq is a Coordinator at the Peshawar Model Educational Network, one of the largest educational networks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in Pakistan. She has spent over a decade supporting teachers and students alike, with her action research focused especially on empowering girls:

“The girls learned leadership skills, group work, communication and public speaking. Despite cultural barriers, we worked with parents to allow them opportunities. Empowering these students builds future leaders and creates a ripple effect across generations.”

Nayyab especially enjoys the global nature of the Partner Schools projects:

“What I love about British Council projects is the opportunity to connect globally. I had the privilege of mentoring a teacher from Africa — learning together despite time differences. It was an enriching experience to share training sessions and adapt collaboratively.”

Why teacher effectiveness matters more than ever

In every classroom, effective teachers are the catalysts of success. They inspire curiosity, build confidence and shape learning environments where every student can thrive. As Nayyab explained, empowering teachers through continuous growth is essential to improving student learning and achieving lasting educational excellence.

“Trust, consistency, and a real classroom focus are essential,” said Nayyab, “Teachers need to feel safe, see consistent follow-through, and focus on practical classroom practices. When these are in place, improvement becomes a habit, and teachers want to work for the institute and their students.”

She believes teachers are the primary point of contact for students and have the greatest impact on change. Effective teachers don’t just transform their own classrooms – they influence one another, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared growth that benefits entire schools.

Nayyab said consistency is the key, “Small, consistent actions lead to significant improvements over time. A small change today can lead to big improvements tomorrow.”

What the British Council’s projects reveal about empowering teachers

As part of the British Council Partner Schools’ roundtable, participants will be discussing recent projects related to strengthening teacher effectiveness. Nayyab touched on many of these topics in her interview to give us an idea of what to expect.

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

A growing body of evidence shows that Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is fundamental to academic success. For example, British Council action researcher, Marwa Atteya, found that a professional development programme focused on SEL can unify school culture. 

Nayyab emphasises that emotionally supported teachers create safe, empathetic environments that improve learning outcomes and strengthen relationships between students and staff.

“Social emotional learning shouldn’t be an add-on,” she said, “It should be woven into everyday teaching. Small, caring actions help teachers build meaningful connections that drive both confidence and achievement.”

• Learning walks

Learning walks, where educators informally observe each other in the classroom, are another effective tool for enhancing teacher performance assessment. Ghazala Sajjad, another action researcher and Action Research Foundation Course mentor, saw the impact first-hand when she explored the benefits of structured learning walks with targeted feedback at her school and observed a notable improvement in all her staff. 

Nayyab highlights that learning walks work most effectively when they are non-judgemental and open to dialogue:

“Teachers should feel safe to discuss problems and suggest solutions before leaders provide guidance. This encourages honest reflection and improvement.”

Constructive feedback prevents defensiveness and promotes genuine learning over performance. When feedback feels safe, teachers engage more deeply with reflective practice and actively seek improvement.

• Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

At the heart of all British Council initiatives lies a belief in steady, evidence-informed growth. So much so that CPD was a core theme in the first year of the Action Research programme.  

“Small, consistent actions such as regular feedback, peer observation and reflection can lead to long-term transformation,” says Nayyab.

This philosophy is mirrored across British Council Partner Schools, where CPD has helped teachers adopt effective teaching methods, develop stronger classroom management skills and improve student outcomes through collaboration.

How the Online Support for Schools has played a pivotal role

Since its launch, the British Council’s Online Support for Schools (OSS) platform has supported teachers globally with accessible, flexible training opportunities. To date, the OSS has recorded over 140,000 registrations, more than 1.2 million activities completed, and around 10,000 webinar participants – an extraordinary testament to the power of digital learning.

For Nayyab and her colleagues, the OSS has become an essential tool in fostering continuous improvement:

“The Online Support for Schools enhances teaching skills and continuous learning. I used it extensively during research and mentorship, and now some teachers use it as well. It provides modern tools and structured modules, making learning and teaching easier and more effective.”

She found that classroom management was the most helpful OSS module for her context, particularly for large classes of 35 to 45 students. By applying strategies from OSS modules, her teachers now encourage group work, interactive lessons and shared responsibility – leading to higher engagement and stronger collaboration.

“The British Council training always guarantees quality and effectiveness,” she reflected, noting that the OSS platform continues to shape her school’s approach to professional development for teachers.

How the roundtable continues these crucial discussions

The roundtable gives you the exclusive opportunity to network, facilitating discussions on global education. It provides a platform for Partner School leaders, mentors and practitioners from across the globe to share insights on effective teacher strategies and reflective practice. 

Designed as a collaborative space, this roundtable will explore how schools can balance SEL with academic priorities, enhance learning walks through purposeful feedback, and use OSS modules to embed sustainable teaching strategies. These conversations help schools bring new ideas and approaches back to their own campuses, ensuring ongoing professional growth and collaboration.

For Nayyab, the roundtable also represents an invaluable opportunity to deepen international collaboration. “Every discussion reminds us that the challenges we face are shared – and so are the solutions,” she noted. She hopes participants will leave with one clear action: “to make reflective practice part of everyday teaching, not just professional development days.”

Join us at the roundtable 

By sharing experiences and insights from leaders like Nayyab Farooq, the British Council aims to equip Partner Schools with practical tools to strengthen teacher performance and build supportive, innovative learning environments. The roundtable on teacher effectiveness takes place on 23 October 2025. Register via the Online Support for Schools or access the recording afterwards to discover how small, consistent steps in professional development for teachers can transform your entire school community.