FAQs

What exactly is a Professional Development Placement (PDP)?

Professional Development Placements (PDPs) allow teachers, lecturers and other education professionals to spend time in business or industry to support their work e.g. teaching, careers advice, WRL...

How long is a placement?

PDPs are normally between one and five days depending on the aims and objectives set to be achieved.

Why should I consider a professional development placement?

Continuous improvement in education institutions has increased demands on staff, consequently training and development has become more critical than ever. PDPs enable education professionals to learn more about their curriculum subject in a business context. Improving areas such as Careers Education Guidance, WRL and Enterprise requires good business and industry links. PDPs can support and provide these links. PDPs provide time for reflection, planning and the often lead to the creation of new exciting teaching and learning materials. Many PDPs will lead to student activities e.g. work experience, case studies and company visits.

Can I be placed in a school?

No, PDPs are all about the experience of spending time in business and industry and using this experience to support and develop your work back at your school or college.

How do I contact my local PDP organiser?

Go to the contacts page of this website.

How can I get up-to-date information about what’s on offer?

Simply log on to www.beacon-east.co.uk and go to the relevant page by using the links on the left hand side of the page.  By registering with us, you’ll receive notification whenever a new placement is added that’s relevant to your subject and role.

I’m having trouble registering or unsubscribing, who do I contact?

If you are having problems registering or subscribing, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What if nothing you are offering meets my need?

E Mail or phone your local PDP manager to discuss a bespoke placement. Placements can be arranged to meet specific needs. By registering with us, you’ll receive notification whenever a new placement is added that’s relevant to your subject and role.

Is funding available?

The PDP service is largely  provided free of charge but there may be a charge for some specific placements. Please check with your local PDP manager. PDPs are designed to assist schools and colleges raise standards and help develop and improve employer engagement. The service is great value for money and is flexible to individual needs.

Can colleagues in others parts of the country access these placements?

Each area has its own PDP manager who will offer a programme of placements. Some of the advertised placements could be open to people from outside that particular area, please check the placement details on the website and/or contact the local PDP manager.

Will my placement be safe?

All PDPs are carefully planned with each PDP host and all the required Health & Safety arrangements and checks are in place before each placement takes place.

I’m a nursery nurse. Who is eligible for these placements?

Placements are open to teachers, learning mentors and personal advisors, careers advisers, classroom support assistants, nursery nurses, ancillary staff, lecturers, senior managers, local authority advisors, anyone who indirectly or indirectly influences young people in schools and colleges, subject to places being available. Each placement listed suggests the principal target group/line of learning.

There is no company in my local area suitable for my training needs. Can I go elsewhere?

PDPs can take place in any suitable employer’s premises, in fact placements sometime take place in Europe and beyond. However, travel and accommodation expenses are seldom available.

When can placements take place?

PDPs take place in term time but have been arranged during holidays and twilight sessions. It is not uncommon for teachers to join the night shift at a company. One placement day must comprise a minimum of five hours.

Who organises what I do whilst I’m on placement?

You will be in the care of a member of the company staff, and a programme of activity will be negotiated between you before the placement takes place. But you have the power and responsibility to re-negotiate the programme if it proves unworkable or inappropriate.

What relevance has this for me? I teach key stage one children.

It has often been said that every teacher is a careers teacher, and all education professionals are working to improve the life chances of each pupil, and this includes preparation for working life. Seen holistically, all teachers contribute to this aim, and all can benefit from appropriate professional development placements.

I teach religious studies. How could a placement help me?

This will depend on your training needs. Placements have taken place with churches, mosques etc. You could work-shadow a vicar. Teachers have been placed with undertakers! Talk to your local Organiser.

I want to go on a course at my local teachers’ centre. Is that a placement?

No. The acid test is: “Is me learning about the company the main focus of the activity?” Placements can include courses on employers’ premises, which involve staff from the business in the training, and which are work or employment-related, but should exclude educational courses that are delivered on employers’ premises.

I’ve got a question!

To submit a question by email, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Your query will be referred to your local PDP organiser and if relevant to others, may be added to this page.