Continuing Professional Development


The Forge offers a range of CPD opportunities suitable for artists and teachers.

Our CPD programme for teachers is developed in direct response to requests from teachers and includes workshops and training on Artsmark, - focusing on cultural and creative innovation in the classroom as well as art form specific training. We work with artists to deliver skills-based CPD for teachers, such as improving teachers’ art and design skills, to support excellent practice in school. We also deliver CPD to help teachers adopt more exciting and innovative approaches to delivering the curriculum such as using drama-based approaches to support the teaching of literacy, or teaching creative writing through photography.

Some of the ways we support teachers is by offering artist led training that uses:

  • Visual arts to deliver SMSC and British Values
  • Drama to engage children in writing
  • Drama to improve resilience
  • Forum theatre techniques to explore digital safeguarding
  • Photography to improve creative writing

“I wish I could bring the session to the whole school!”

“Loved the pace – and the positivity of “Yes, let’s!” – meant that there wasn’t time to worry”

“Provocative and practical session – will help me use ACE’s 7 Quality Principles in my planning”

“All of the activities were enormously helpful - can’t wait to use them in the classroom”

“Automatic writing, thought-tracking and freeze frames were excellent engagement activities”.

“Great ideas for involving less confident pupils.”

“Provocative and practical session – will help me use ACE’s 7 Quality Principles in my planning”