Annual report from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Teaching School Hub highlights increasing regional reach and impact.
Release date: 1st December 2025
Nearly three quarters of schools across the region engaged with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Teaching School Hub (CPTSH) in the past 12 months alone, according to an annual progress update prepared for the government’s Department for Education (DfE).
Cumulatively, since CPTSH was established in 2021, 90% of schools across the region have now engaged with its work, including 98% of secondaries, 92% of primaries and 77% of special schools. This sustained, broad-based engagement reflects the Hub’s embedded role and impact in supporting teacher development and school improvement across the region.
Last year, CPTSH unveiled its Local Leadership, Local Impact mission document which set out its contribution to the region’s priorities for high-quality training and personalised support, its detailed commitments for delivering the DfE’s ‘Golden Thread’ until 2028, and the opportunity for schools and early years settings to join the Hub on the next phase of its journey.
Now, CPTSH has provided an update on key developments for the 2024-25 reporting period.
Over the past year, CPTSH supported 262 of the 358 schools in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, achieving an overall engagement rate of 73%. Schools have connected with CPTSH across multiple aspects of the ‘Golden Thread’: Appropriate Body services (228 schools), Early Career Framework (151 schools), National Professional Qualifications (90 schools), and Initial Teacher Training (89 schools).
Engagement remains strong across both local authorities, with 70% of Cambridgeshire schools and 83% of Peterborough schools involved in the Hub’s programmes this year. Participation has spanned all school types and phases, with particularly high engagement among secondary schools (86%), primary schools (74%) and special schools (73%).
Highlighting specific achievements across its core areas, CPTSH emphasised the following:
Appropriate Body (AB)
During the 2024-25 academic year, CPTSH continued to deliver a high-quality AB service, supporting 721 Early Career Teachers (ECTs) – 359 in Year 1 and 362 in Year 2 across 255 schools. Renowned for its robust quality assurance, responsive support and collaborative approach, the AB service has maintained strong and effective provision that evolves to meet the needs of educators. Through rigorous quality assurance processes, enhanced training and communication, and close partnership with schools and other Teaching School Hubs, CPTSH’s service remains a trusted and reflective support mechanism. The service plays a critical role in ensuring the success and development of ECTs, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
CPTSH leads the way in the delivery of high-quality NPQs, supporting educators at all levels to develop their leadership capacity and drive school improvement. With a strong emphasis on evidence-informed practice, strategic collaboration and continuous quality assurance, CPTSH has built a reputation for impactful, responsive and inclusive professional development. A key highlight was the launch of the new NPQ for SENCOs, developed in partnership with Teach First, which equips current and aspiring SENCOs with the essential knowledge and leadership skills to strategically shape SEND provision in their schools. Experienced Meridian Trust facilitators Mary Abeyasekera (Executive Director SENDV and Executive Principal of the Trust’s three special schools) and Amy Wright (Assistant Director for SENDV and Autism specialist) were involved in developing the programme. Across all leadership and specialist NPQs, high levels of participant satisfaction underline the Hub’s influence:
CPTSH end-of-programme evaluation
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95% felt supported by CPTSH during their NPQ.
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93% recommend CPTSH to undertake an NPQ.
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80% could implement what they had learned from their NPQ in their school.
Teach First CPTSH survey data
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99% were satisfied overall.
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96% rated one-to-one support as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
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92% of alumni could implement improvements in their school.
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91% felt NPQ conferences were ‘effective’ or ‘very effective’ at building their knowledge and equipping them to be a school leader.
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89% said their NPQ had prepared them take on a position of greater responsibility.
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84% reported their NPQ had equipped them to better meet the demands of their role.
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External review rated CPTSH 10/10 for programme design and one-to-one support.
NPQ participant case studies
Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
CPTSH plays a key role in the delivery and development of high-quality ITT across the region. Through targeted recruitment campaigns and strong collaboration with ITT providers – The Cambridge Partnership, CTSN SCITT and Teach East – the Hub has contributed to an increase in trainee numbers (from 183 to 189 trainees) and strengthened regional partnerships. CPTSH’s work supports a broad range of training routes, including apprenticeships and part-time, and has been instrumental in initiatives such as successful re-accreditation bids, mentor/ECT conferences, and active participation in regional and national ITT meetings to address broader sector challenges.
Lynne Birch, Hub Lead, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Teaching School Hub, said:
“We are incredibly proud that over 70% of schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough engaged with our programmes this year, with 90% connecting with the Hub since we began four years ago. This reflects our deep-rooted commitment to strengthening every stage of the education workforce – from Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, to leadership and specialist National Professional Qualifications and Appropriate Body services. Through strong partnerships, innovative delivery and a relentless focus on quality we are working hand-in-hand with early years settings, schools and other multi-academy trusts to ensure every teacher is supported to thrive and every pupil benefits from excellent teaching. Our work in collaboration with other regional and national Teaching School Hubs is extending our influence, including specifically around NPQ content.”
Lesley Birch, Hub Strategic Lead and Deputy CEO of Meridian Trust, commented:
“We are delighted that CPTSH is continually building on the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE), AB, NPQ and ITT offers so that our children and young people benefit. Our training offer supports schools and settings so that staff make a positive difference in the classroom and beyond. We are extremely proud of our work with teachers, leaders, schools, multi-academy trusts and the wider sector to enhance teaching and learning. It is important to celebrate our successes widely, including developing ECT and NPQ alumni who can mentor and inspire others. We welcome the opportunity to support mainstream and special schools and early years’ settings in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we are not currently working with.”
On 10th February 2026, CPTSH is hosting a conference, Local Leadership, Local Impact – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, at The Burgess Hall in St Ives. This one-day event, which is designed to bring together senior leaders from all phases and settings across the region, will focus on sustainable improvement in attainment, inclusive mainstream education, reception quality, and attendance. Attendees will gain actionable insights, network with peers, and explore the latest trends and tools making an impact in their area and beyond. For more information, and to reserve your place, please click here.