We are delighted to welcome Mr Paul Holt to LEH Foshan as our new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Coordinator and Head of Physics. With an impressive 15 years of experience in international education, including leadership roles in both New Zealand and China, Mr Holt brings a passion for fostering collaboration and growth within teaching teams. His most recent role was leading the IGCSE Physics department at a top international school in Shenzhen, where he developed a reputation for mentoring staff and driving innovation.
What is CPD and why is it important?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the ongoing training, learning, and professional growth of teachers and staff within a school. At LEH Foshan, we believe that CPD is essential for maintaining high educational standards and ensuring that our students receive the best possible education. By investing in our staff, we create a culture of continuous learning, where teachers regularly share best practices, refine their skills, and stay at the forefront of educational advancements.
Professional development is at the heart of what we do as educators, and it’s through continuous learning that we model the 8C of craftsmanship for our students. By refining our skills and staying at the forefront of educational practices, we ensure that we not only deliver the highest standards of teaching but also demonstrate the value of lifelong learning. This commitment to excellence empowers us to nurture the same dedication in our students, inspiring them to embrace their own learning journeys.
With Mr Holt leading the way, we are building an inspiring CPD programme that fosters teamwork, innovation, and the continuous growth of every educator. To learn more about Mr Holt’s experience and his vision for CPD at LEH Foshan, we sat down with him.
A Passion for
Building Communities
Mr Holt shared that his decision to join LEH Foshan was guided by the welcoming and inclusive culture he experienced during his visits to the school and its potential for growth. “I firmly believe you can learn a lot about a school’s culture the moment you walk through the door,” he explains. “LEH Foshan is growing, and I’m excited to be part of that journey. There’s a great opportunity to develop strong relationships with both students and staff, and I could see from the start how much the teachers here know and care about their students.”
He also highlighted the school’s supportive leadership, noting how Headteacher Mrs Arden was instrumental in encouraging him to take on the CPD Coordinator role. “She recognised my strengths and gave me the chance to take on a position I believe suits me well. If you have good ideas and the drive to see them through, this school is very open and supportive of people taking initiative,” he added.
A Vision for
Professional Growth
One of Mr Holt’s core strengths is his ability to bring people together. During his time in Shenzhen, he transformed the culture of his Physics department by encouraging staff to share teaching strategies and ideas. “Collaboration and learning from one another were at the heart of what we did,” he says. His efforts extended beyond the classroom, organising CPD training sessions and conferences that brought together educators from across Asia.
His belief in the importance of continuous learning and professional development is central to his approach as CPD Coordinator at LEH Foshan.
Being a CPD leader at a new school like this one is incredibly exciting, because the school is still quite young and we have the chance to develop a great programme from the start. We are also fortunate to have so many experienced teachers here and therefore a huge amount of potential for growth. My goal as CPD leader is to find ways for teachers to share that wealth of experience with each other. As Dylan Wiliam says, ‘We can always improve,’ and that’s the mindset I hope to foster.
At LEH Foshan, Mr Holt has already applied the same principles, launching a CPD Committee to ensure that staff development is driven by a shared vision. “Many heads are better than one,” Mr Holt noted, emphasising the importance of gathering input from staff to tailor the CPD programme to the school’s unique needs.
Mr Holt has also introduced the TeachMeet initiative, a programme that encourages teachers to share practical, classroom-tested ideas with one another. “I believe that the best professional development is practical and can be applied immediately to improve teaching and learning,” he explains. “That’s why I’m a big fan of TeachMeets—they provide teachers with strategies they can use right away in their lessons.”
Mr Holt has big plans for the CPD programme at LEH Foshan, with a focus on creating a culture of continuous improvement. “I’m excited about what’s ahead,” he says. “Building a successful CPD programme takes time, but it’s all about fostering a mindset of growth. We want to integrate professional development into the daily life of the school, not just through one-off events but through ongoing initiatives like mentoring, team teaching, and collaborative planning.” Upcoming initiatives, such as “Tweak of the Week” and teacher mentoring systems, aim to foster a dynamic environment where staff feel supported and inspired to grow.
He is also keen to ensure that the benefits of CPD extend beyond staff development to impact student learning outcomes. “Great teaching has a direct impact on students, and effective CPD helps ensure that teachers are continually improving their skills. Ultimately, we want our students to benefit from the best teaching possible, both now and in the future,” Mr Holt explains.
With his wealth of experience and a passion for developing others, Mr Holt is already making a positive impact on the staff and students at LEH Foshan. We’re excited to see how his initiatives will continue to shape the future of professional development at our school.
