IP Newsletter February 2026
February is often the moment when the academic year starts to feel real.
The energy of September has settled, the January reset is behind us, and schools are deep into the work of delivering improvement priorities at pace.
It’s also the perfect time to pause - not to slow down, but to take stock.
What’s working well? Where is the impact already visible? And where might small adjustments now make a big difference by the summer term?
In this edition, we’re focusing on mid-year momentum: how schools can move beyond activity to ensure that professional development, monitoring, and improvement work translate into meaningful outcomes for staff and pupils.
By February, most schools have delivered a significant amount of CPD. Training sessions have taken place, coaching cycles are underway, and development plans are in motion. iP helps by bringing CPD activity and improvement planning together in one place, making it easier to review whether time, focus and resources are still aligned to what matters most at this point in the year.
At this stage, many schools are shifting the CPD conversation from attendance to impact. By linking CPD records to monitoring activities such as learning walks or coaching notes, SchoolIP allows leaders to assess whether agreed strategies are being applied in practice and where further support may be needed.
Centralising monitoring insight also helps schools identify patterns rather than isolated examples. Instead of responding reactively, leaders can use this evidence to shape targeted CPD for the spring and summer terms, while there is still time for changes to embed.
Most importantly, iP reduces duplication and last-minute evidence gathering. Information captured through everyday activity builds a clear picture over time, supporting confident conversations about professional development, impact and next steps - without adding to staff workload.
Key Questions to Ask During a Mid-Year CPD Check-In
Are our CPD activities still aligned to school priorities?
Do staff understand why these development areas matter now?
How well are strategies being applied in classrooms?
What CPD sessions are showing the most impact?
Where is additional support or coaching needed?
February is an important point in the year to review staff development and performance progress/ By this stage, professional development plans are underway, monitoring activities have taken place, and coaching conversations are in motion. iP provides a central space to bring this all together, allowing leaders to see how staff development links directly to whole school priorities.
Mid-Year Staff Development Review Checklist:
Review Objectives and Alignment
Check that individual staff objectives are still aligned with whole-school priorities.
Ensure professional goals remain relevant and achievable.
Identify any objectives that need refining or refocusing.
iP allows leaders to see clear alignment between individual performance targets and strategic improvement goals, all in one place.
Check Progress Against Actions
Review actions and milestones logged in the previous term's reviews.
Use iP to track completion status and record evidence of progress.
Identify any barriers noted in review records and plan support conversations.
Because actions and review notes are centralised in iP, leaders can quickly see progress without chasing paperwork or separate documents.
Analyse Monitoring and Feedback Trends
Look for recurring strengths or themes across departments or phases.
Use the reporting features in iP to identify shared development areas. This can be done via CPD > Areas for Development, where you can apply filters to narrow the information and generate a report.
Evaluate CPD Impact
Review whether agreed strategies are visible in recorded observations.
Identify staff who may benefit from follow-up coaching or targeted CPD.
Plan Next Steps for Spring Term
Adjust objectives or development plans within iP.
Align upcoming CPD sessions with identified needs.
With staff development tracked, objectives aligned, and CPD progress clearly visible, leaders can take a step back from day-to-day tasks and focus on the bigger picture - ensuring that long-term school priorities and strategic goals remain on track.
Don’t let your long-term vision get lost in short-term tasks. Let’s ensure your 3- and 5-year plans are backed by a system that reduces workload and amplifies impact.
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Reclaiming Your Vision Leadership, at whatever level, whether the subject, department or at the school level, is strategically intense, and it is easy to get buried in the "tactical trenches." When we spend our days firefighting, we suffer from "Moral Injury": the exhaustion and "numbness" that make us stop leading and start merely navigating collisions.
Our Specialised Consultancy: The "Headteacher Advantage" We offer bespoke coaching and mentoring that bypasses the "translation" phase. Because we have sat in the Headteacher’s seat, and provide:
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Webinars & Global Insights We build more than software; we build a global community. Join our latest webinars featuring experts discussing:
Governance Strategies
Sustainability in Schools
Evidence-Based Teaching Pillars
Looking Ahead
As we move through February, iP makes it easier for leaders to take stock of staff development, track CPD, and monitor progress across the school. By centralising objectives, reviews, and feedback in one place, iP allows you to see patterns, make timely adjustments, and plan next steps with confidence. With the system supporting both day-to-day management and long-term goals, leaders can focus on driving meaningful impact, embedding improvements, and ensuring professional development translates into real outcomes for staff and the school.
If you are enjoying iP…
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