The world of education is constantly changing, requiring educators to learn new skills and reinforce their existing abilities. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) ensures they keep pace with current teaching standards and that their knowledge and skills are up to date. Click on the links below for information on CPD and free training opportunities to enable you to thrive and grow in your role, and support your pupils to achieve their full potential.
SLN CPD sessions
Sussex Learning Network runs free CPD sessions for school and college staff throughout the year. These provide practical information on ways to support your learners as well as enhancing your professional knowledge. This year, all our sessions will be run online.
We run regular CPD sessions through our Get Career Confident programme. These hour-long sessions are held at the end of the school day. For upcoming dates, see the list below. Please contact c.n.field@brighton.ac.uk for more information and visit our Get Career Confident website for resources for you, your colleagues and your learners.
CPD courses and resources from other providers
Students are using AI in growing numbers, often without clear guidance on what's appropriate and what isn't. This interactive session looks at the challenges of supporting students with AI use, drawing on sector research about how students are actually using these tools, why detection-focused approaches fall short, and how to open up honest conversations about appropriate use, acknowledgement and academic integrity. You'll leave with up-to-date information, ideas and practical takeaways that you can take straight back into your own setting.
During this Expert Speaker session, Becky Holman, Hannah Tarrant and Sally Cheng, three Learning Designers at the University of Portsmouth, will talk about how students can best be supported in using AI sensibly.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 17th September 2026 online 4-5pm
Online at 16:00 - 17:00
To book click here.
This bite-sized training explores the university application process for care-experienced young people, focusing on UCAS, available support, and key entitlements. You will gain practical knowledge to help young people overcome barriers and successfully access and progress through higher education.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership.
Date: 11th November 2026
Online at: 15:00 - 17:00
To book click here.
Interactive online training for professionals and organisations working with young people, to learn about the different educational pathways available to young people aged 16+. Select tickets – SUN Spotlight: Supporting Students with their Post-16 Choices – Zoom
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 18th November 2026
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
Designed for Early Career Teachers and trainee teachers, this session explores underrepresentation in education and higher education, the barriers some learners face, and the role teachers play in creating inclusive environments that support student progression, aspiration and long-term success.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 25th November 2026
Online at 15:00 - 16:30
To book click here.
This session explores barriers to higher education and how schools and colleges can support underrepresented learners. Gain insight into widening participation priorities, student experiences, and practical strategies to raise aspirations, support applications, and improve outcomes in higher education.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 1st December 2026
Online at 15:00 - 16:30
To book click here.
This session focuses on the challenges and successes of developing, delivering, and evaluating the SUN's Empower programme. The programme specifically targets young men in Years 9 and 10 who are eligible for Free School Meals (or are Uni Connect learners). You will gain valuable insights from the young men involved, as well as practical advice on how to develop your own programme using the Taking Boys Seriously Principles.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 13th January 2027
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
Apprenticeships are a popular progression route for young people. This session provides an overview of apprenticeship pathways, qualification levels and applications, alongside employer insights into recruitment, progression opportunities and how apprenticeships can support successful career development. Select tickets – SUN Spotlight: All you need to know about Apprenticeships – Zoom
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 11th February 2027
Online at 15:00 - 16:30
To book click here.
Young carers often balance education alongside significant caring responsibilities. This session explores the impact on learning, attendance and wellbeing, and how schools and colleges can identify and support young carers, with practical strategies to help them succeed and thrive.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 4th March 2027
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
Delivered in partnership with the Service Children's Progression Alliance (SCiP), this session explores the educational experiences of service children and military families. You will gain practical strategies for supporting learners affected by mobility, deployment and changing family circumstances, while exploring how the Thriving Lives Toolkit can be used within your setting.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 21st April 2027
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
Mental health and wellbeing are key to student success. Developed with the Schools Wellbeing Partnership, this session explores current challenges affecting young people and shares practical strategies, resources and approaches to create supportive environments that promote wellbeing, engagement and achievement.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 6th May 2027
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
This bite-sized training explores the university application process for care-experienced young people, focusing on UCAS, available support, and key entitlements. You will gain practical knowledge to help young people overcome barriers and successfully access and progress through higher education.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 12th May 2027
Online at 15:00 - 17:00
To book click here.
What happens after a student submits their UCAS application? This session provides insight into the university admissions process, exploring how applications are reviewed, factors influencing decisions, common misconceptions, and practical guidance to help support students through successful applications.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Date: 10th June 2027
Online at 15:30 - 16:30
To book click here.
This self-directed online CPD course is designed to introduce you to the experiences of estranged students and equip you with the knowledge and tools to support them effectively. Through this interactive course, you'll explore what estrangement means, the unique barriers these students face, and the support available to help them access and thrive in higher education.
Delivered by the Southern Universities Network Uni Connect Partnership
Available now click here
The national charity Become has a free film and an INSET training pack to help schools and colleges support care-experienced young people.
Working in partnership with Bexhill College, SLN are able to provide a limited number of free staff training sessions addressing negative gendered behaviour among young people. The training ‘unveiling teenage misogyny’ is delivered by staff at Bexhill College in a 90-minute interactive session and aims to equip staff with knowledge, confidence, and potential strategies to respond effectively to misogyny and harmful gendered attitudes within educational environments.
Delivery details
- A stand alone, in person, one-off training session
- Designed for delivery to groups of up to 60 staff. Larger groups may be accommodated subject to prior discussion
- 90 minutes per session covering
- key terminology and concepts
- misogyny in a global and societal context
- the role of social media, influencers, and online movements
- areas of risk and concern within educational settings
- discussion and sharing strategies for addressing negative gendered behaviours in your setting and guidance on implementing approaches in classrooms and across schools
Trainers
- Katherine Rush (Assistant Principal/EDI Lead/DDSL)
- Adam Wadeson (Teacher of Sports Science, Personal Training, Massage & Esports)
- Owen Richardson (Teacher of Public/Uniform Services & Personal Training)
If you would like to find out more about the training please contact Katherine directly by clicking here.
UCAS train the trainer workshops for staff supporting care-experienced students
Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 09:30-12:00
Tuesday, 08 December 2026, 14:00-16:30
Monday, 01 March 2027, 14:00-16:30
Thursday, 20 May 2027, 09:30-12:00
Interactive sessions for anyone supporting care-experienced young people considering their next steps. We take a back-to-basics approach, and don’t assume any prior knowledge of UCAS which means it is ideal for colleagues in virtual schools, local authority leaving care teams and personal advisers, foster carers, outreach teams, and organisations supporting foster carers and young people in care. While we explore how to support journeys to higher education, we also look at a range of tools and resources that encourage earlier engagement with wider careers and pathways. This makes the workshop relevant for anyone supporting young people with discussions about their future choices from age 14 onwards.
The workshops are held on Microsoft Teams and last 2.5 hours, giving us plenty of opportunity for discussion, feedback and questions throughout so you can fill any gaps in your knowledge. We cover:
- Insights - what we know about care-experienced applicants, the challenges and common behaviours, and what this means for support.
- The UCAS Hub – tools and resources to support earlier careers discovery and decision making – includes an interactive session to help you get to know the Hub.
- The UCAS application – useful things for you to know.
- Specialist information and advice for care-experienced young people.
- Dedicated free resources to help those advising care experienced young people access the most up-to-date guidance.
To book click here
E-learning for HE staff to understand and support disabled students. A free online course run by Go Higher West Yorkshire. The course can be taken in your own time and will take approximately 45 minutes and covers the following topics:
- Understanding the experiences of disabled students
- Understanding how this may impact their time in HE
- Understanding how to support these students
- Where to find more information and resources
Date: Available now
Online
To book click here.
Sutton Trust Teacher Champions Programme, run in partnership with Causeway Education aims to improve progression to competitive higher education institutions and courses from state schools across the UK. There are ongoing workshops and seminars which you can sign up to increase your knowledge and support your learners. Sign up to the online sessions below.
Sign up here.
Understanding and confronting racism, discrimination and inequality. Learn about the anti-racism movement in the UK and what you can do to champion it in your everyday life.
Online 1 hour per week over three weeks
To book click here.
The Careers & Enterprise Company is offering a series of free CPD events and resources for career and education leaders. To find out more about the events, click here, and to browse the training programmes, guides, toolkits and other resources, click here.
The Self-Harm Learning Network is running free webinars for professionals and volunteers supporting young people who self-harm. The one-hour sessions aim to improve confidence and reduce fear around the topic of self-harm, look at what self-harm is and isn’t and who it affects, and suggest strategies and resources to support those who are self-harming and the people around them.
To book click here.
Advancing Access is a partnership of 24 Russell Group universities and supports teachers and advisers with high-quality CPD opportunities, including in-school sessions, events, and resources. You can access this free of charge here How we help schools and colleges / Advancing Access
Find out more click here.