Paul Bishop reports for Schools Week on the Developing Teachers report.

Leading headteachers have joined the Sutton Trust to urge the three main political parties to improve professional training for teachers in a new report published today.

They are calling the trio to ensure all teachers and school leaders are entitled to professional development backed by a College of Teaching and a revitalised National College for School Leadership.

The 17 heads have put forward five proposals in the report called Developing Teachers and drew up their ideas after discussions with colleagues from 10 countries at a summit on professional development jointly organised by the Sutton Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November.

Sutton Trust chief executive, Dr Lee Elliot Major, said: “Brilliant teaching can transform lives so it should shock us that today’s teachers do not all benefit from the professional training they deserve.

“We know that the quality of classroom teaching has by far the biggest impact on pupils, particularly those from poorer homes. Improving the continuing professional development available to teachers should be a key priority in our drive to improve social mobility.”

Read the full coverage here.

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