As the academic year winds down, many teachers are rightfully turning their attention to rest and recovery. After months of juggling lessons, marking, admin, and pastoral care, the summer offers a well-earned break.

However, the holidays can also provide space to pause, reflect, and pursue professional growth. If you’re interested in exploring continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities this summer, you’re in the right place.

This article highlights a selection of interest-led CPD for teachers that’s low-pressure, free or low-cost, and easy to dip into whenever it suits you. Whether it’s refreshing your classroom practices, trying something new, or simply re-energising before September, there’s something here for everyone.

What is CPD for teachers?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the ongoing learning activities that help teachers enhance knowledge, refine skills, and stay up to date in both their subject area and the wider profession. It’s not just a formal requirement but a key part of maintaining high standards in education and adapting to the evolving needs of students and schools.

There are two broad categories of CPD: formal and informal. Formal CPD includes structured, organised activities such as accredited training or whole-school professional development days. Informal CPD covers more flexible, self-directed approaches such as reading educational articles, reflecting on classroom practices, or tuning into an educational podcast.

Why is CPD for teachers important?

CPD is vital in helping teachers meet the constantly changing demands of the education system. As new research, policies, and technologies emerge, CPD ensures teachers remain effective, adaptable, and confident in their practice.

Engaging in regular CPD has far-reaching benefits:

  • Improved professional practice: CPD provides fresh insights into pedagogy, classroom management, and subject knowledge, helping teachers deliver more effective lessons.
  • Greater job satisfaction: Teachers who feel supported in their development are more motivated and fulfilled in their roles.
  • Enhanced student outcomes: When teachers deliver high-quality, evidence-informed education, it has a direct and positive impact on student achievement.
  • Positive school culture: A strong focus on development helps retain passionate staff, fosters collaboration, and builds a shared sense of purpose across the school.
  • Career progression: CPD supports professional growth and can open doors to new opportunities, such as leadership responsibilities or specialist roles.

Ultimately, CPD helps create a culture of continuous improvement, benefiting both staff and students.

Two male teachers look at phone and discussing CPD resource.

CPD platforms for teachers

Wherever you are in your teaching career, there are numerous platforms offering broad and flexible CPD for teachers.

Future Learn

Future Learn offers a range of online, self-paced courses created by universities and education experts. Their CPD for teachers covers everything from pedagogy and classroom management to wider educational themes.

Examples include ‘Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching’ by Lancaster University, which explores how dyslexia can impact a student’s ability to learn additional languages, and ‘Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School’, which offers strategies to help students thrive in the classroom.

Many courses are free to join, although access may be limited to a set number of weeks. Some offer extended access or certificates for a fee.

OpenLearn

Delivered by The Open University, OpenLearn offers short, flexible courses—ranging from 1 to 24 hours of study—designed to support teachers across a broad range of topics. From evaluating the accessibility of e-learning to exploring innovative methods of assessment, there’s something to suit a wide variety of interests and needs.

There’s no cost to enrol, and you can start learning straight away. In addition to courses, the platform offers articles, videos, interactive games, and audio content.

Pearson Professional Development Academy

The Pearson Professional Development Academy offers a range of online and in-person CPD courses designed to support teachers across key stages and subject areas. Some courses are free, while others are available at a low cost.

Upcoming live sessions include ‘GCSE Science: Tackling Extended Open Response Writing’, ‘A Level Maths: Supporting High-Attaining Students’, and ‘Maths and Statistics for A Level Psychology’.

You can explore upcoming events or access pre-recorded sessions from past training via Pearson’s online portal.

Myatt & Co

Myatt & Co offers an extensive library of over 500 CPD films and webinars for teachers, school leaders, and education professionals. The content spans a wide range of topics, including curriculum design, pedagogy, leadership, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and inclusion.

While full access requires a subscription, a selection of free content is available to explore.

Teacher searching for online CPD courses on laptop.

Teachwire

Teachwire provides a wide range of free, downloadable CPD resources for teachers across primary and secondary education. Created by experienced educators, their packs cover themes such as assessment, wellbeing, inclusion, and classroom strategies alongside subject-specific support.

In addition to CPD materials, Teachwire also features insightful articles on current issues in education.

Subject-specific CPD for teachers

If you’re looking to deepen your expertise in a particular subject, there are lots of CPD opportunities for teachers tailored to specific areas of the curriculum.

STEM Learning

STEM Learning offers a variety of free and low-cost CPD courses for secondary and post-16 teachers. Their courses cover a range of topics, including teaching climate change, supporting autistic learners in science, and improving teaching through observation.

With both online and in-person options, their courses provide flexible professional development to help you stay up to date with the latest teaching strategies and best practices.

Imperial: Maths and Further Maths CPD

In partnership with MEI, Imperial College London offers free CPD programmes for Year 12 and 13 A Level Maths and Further Maths teachers in state schools. These courses are designed to help teachers develop the subject knowledge and pedagogical skills needed to support students aiming for top grades, particularly those applying to competitive STEM university courses.

They currently offer four self-paced online programmes in addition to in-person masterclass events. Teachers can apply for one or multiple programmes.

Teach Computing

Teach Computing provides free CPD for primary and secondary teachers looking to build confidence in delivering the computing curriculum. Developed by the National Centre for Computing Education, the courses are designed to support teachers at all experience levels, from beginners to subject specialists.

British Red Cross: Humanitarian education

The British Red Cross is offering free CPD for teachers and youth educators through a pilot programme focused on humanitarian education.

The programme currently includes two courses—Teaching First Aid and Teaching about War and Conflict—with further topics set to launch throughout 2025. Training is available via e-learning, digital sessions, and in-person events and is supported by high-quality classroom resources.

Female teacher at desk doing online CPD course.

British Library

The British Library’s Learning Team offers a range of free resources and periodic CPD opportunities for teachers working with secondary and post-16 students. Their materials span subjects such as English, History, Politics, and Religious Studies.

Past live-streamed CPD sessions have included Othello in Context for English teachers and a Women’s Rights webinar for secondary sociology educators.

For future CPD opportunities and event listings, keep an eye on the British Library Learning events page.

Inclusion, accessibility and wellbeing CPD for teachers

Alongside the numerous courses available through major platforms, there are several standalone CPD opportunities that focus specifically on inclusion, accessibility, and mental health.

Made By Dyslexia

Made By Dyslexia, in partnership with Microsoft, provides a series of free online training courses designed to help educators better understand and support students with dyslexia. The CPD is practical, research-based, and designed to build awareness and classroom confidence in dyslexia-friendly teaching.

Place2Be: Mental Health Champions – Foundation Programme

Place2Be offers a free, CPD-certified training course designed to enhance understanding of young people’s mental health. The Mental Health Champions Foundation Programme is a five-week course that introduces practical strategies for supporting positive wellbeing in schools, colleges, and communities.

On completion, participants gain access to the Place2Be Staffroom, an online community where school staff, trainee teachers, and professionals across the UK can share ideas, access additional resources, and continue learning together.

Worth-it

Worth-it offers a free 80-minute online course on coaching young people, designed to help teachers build student resilience through the principles of positive psychology. The course introduces practical strategies to support emotional wellbeing, focusing on helping students develop the skills they need to manage challenges and thrive.

Winston’s Wish: Bereavement training

The UK charity Winston’s Wish offers a free online introductory course on childhood bereavement designed for teachers and school staff. The course covers what childhood bereavement is, how grief can affect children and young people, and how to respond when a bereavement impacts your school community.

Teacher listening to podcast for teacher CPD.

CPD for teachers via podcasts

Podcasts are a flexible and accessible way to engage with CPD—perfect for busy teachers who want to learn on the go. Below is a small selection of the many education podcasts available.

Mind the Gap

Presented by Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner, Mind the Gap explores best practices in teaching, impactful professional development, and global trends in primary and secondary education. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with experts from around the globe, offering practical insights that teachers can apply in their own classrooms.

The Evidence Based Education Podcast

The Evidence Based Education Podcast examines how the gaps between research, policy, and classroom practice can be bridged to enhance student outcomes. It focuses on evidence-based practices and provides new insights into various topics, including behaviour, assessment, curriculum design, and effective teaching methods.

Mr Barton Maths

In this long-form podcast, maths specialist Craig Barton interviews inspiring guests from across the education sector. Episodes include discussions on effective teaching practices, educational research, and practical tips for teachers.

Tips for Teachers

Also hosted by Craig Barton, Tips for Teachers offers bite-sized practical advice from a wide range of educators. Each episode features a guest sharing five actionable tips on various aspects of teaching, from planning and assessment to wellbeing and time management. Previous guests have included Alex Quigley, Ollie Lovell and Mary Myatt. With an archive of episodes to dip into, it’s a great source of easy-to-implement ideas.

The SENDcast

Presented by Dale Pickles, The SENDcast is a weekly award-winning podcast focusing on all things SEND. Topics range from inclusive classroom strategies and behaviour to whole-school SEND policy.

Professional growth doesn’t always have to be expensive, time-consuming, or overwhelming. It might simply mean listening to a podcast on a walk, dipping into a short online course, or discovering a new approach through a free CPD video or article.

Have we missed any of your go-to resources? Share your favourite teacher CPD recommendations in the comments below.

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Molly Wood

Molly is a first-class graduate from the University of St Andrews, where she studied biology. As Senior Project Manager at PMT Education, she oversees SEO, digital content, and media management, and plays a key role in coordinating PMT Courses.

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