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Cosmos Primary

Professional growth · Framework 2.0

L.E.A.D.E.R. — the six-stage educator journey.

A dual-track professional growth framework that separates your expertise level from your job role. Every educator has a current stage, a current step, and a clear path forward.

The promise

Every educator, every year, a step further along.

Progression is tied to evidence of practice and aligned to Cambridge Standards — not years of service. Nobody is worse off during the move to 2.0: existing pay is protected.

Before L.E.A.D.E.R.
Teaching Assistants
TA Entry
TA
TA+
Into Foundation Educator (L)

TAs progress through three steps alongside the educator cohort. Staff who move into a teaching role start the L.E.A.D.E.R. journey at Foundation Educator (L) — the bottom of the main timeline below.

The full progression

Six stages. Three steps in each. Two tracks on either side.

Each stage carries a Teaching Track title on the left and a Leadership Track title on the right. Within every stage are three steps — Entry, Core, and Plus. One step per year, subject to appraisal.

  1. L
    Learning
    Developing Teacher Aspiring Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  2. E
    Exploring
    Emerging Teacher Emerging Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  3. A
    Applying
    Proficient Teacher Proficient Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  4. D
    Deepening
    Accomplished Teacher Accomplished Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  5. E
    Empowering
    Distinguished Teacher Distinguished Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  6. R
    Reshaping
    Master Teacher Strategic Leader
    EntryCorePlus
  7. Top of profession

Where you sit on this path — your stage and step — sets your base pay. A leadership role adds a TLR allowance on top.

The six stages

Learning → Exploring → Applying → Deepening → Empowering → Reshaping.

Each stage has its own focus area, evidence expectations, and professional-development pathway. Educators progress with a mix of structured coaching, peer observation, Impact-Team contribution, and self-directed study.

  • Learning the fundamentals

    Developing Teacher or Aspiring Leader. New educators — or educators new to Cosmos — master the Cambridge curriculum, our Whole School Programmes, and the Cosmos way of doing things.

  • Exploring different approaches

    Emerging Teacher or Emerging Leader. Educators try different methods, observe colleagues, and build the range that makes a teacher flexible. Positive behaviour and classroom communication deepen here.

  • Applying skills consistently

    Proficient Teacher or Proficient Leader. Planning, classroom management, assessment for/as/of learning become second nature. This is where craft is fluent and visible, every day.

  • Deepening expertise

    Accomplished Teacher or Accomplished Leader. Educators deepen mastery in their phase and subjects — intervention design, classroom coaching, and reflection cycles sharpen. A trusted voice on pedagogy.

  • Empowering others to grow

    Distinguished Teacher or Distinguished Leader. Educators take on Impact Team roles, coach peers, and shape school-wide direction. Their impact extends beyond their own classroom.

  • Reshaping the profession

    Master Teacher or Strategic Leader. Senior educators reshape practice through research, theory-to-practice translation, and policy design — the top of our profession, reached by teaching or by leading.

Roles at each stage

What you’ll actually be called.

Every stage has an Educator Level name (the generic label for your expertise) and a set of role titles you can hold. Leadership roles start at Applying (A); Principals hold their role at base pay without a TLR.

L
Learning
Foundation Educator
Teaching Track
  • Classroom EducatorBase pay
Leadership Track
—
E
Exploring
Emerging Educator
Teaching Track
  • Classroom EducatorBase pay
Leadership Track
  • Project Lead / ECT Coordinator / House MasterTLR3
A
Applying
Proficient Educator
Leadership entry point
Teaching Track
  • Senior Classroom EducatorBase pay
Leadership Track
  • Impact Team Lead — Core CurriculumTLR2
  • Impact Team Lead — WSPTLR2
  • Impact Team Lead — Culture AreaTLR2
  • House System CoordinatorTLR2
D
Deepening
Expert Educator
Teaching Track
  • Master TeacherBase pay
Leadership Track
  • Year Group LeadTLR2
  • Impact Team Lead (Core / WSP / Culture)TLR2
  • Special Subject TeacherTLR2
E
Empowering
Lead Educator
Teaching Track
  • Master TeacherBase pay
Leadership Track
  • Culture & Climate LeadTLR1
  • T&L Interventions LeadTLR1
  • Learning Experiences CuratorTLR1
  • Deputy PrincipalBase pay
  • Principal (Administration)Base pay
R
Reshaping
Master Educator
Teaching Track
  • Master TeacherBase pay
Leadership Track
  • Principal (Academics)Base pay
The four Impact Team Lead categories (TLR2)
Core Curriculum

English Lead · Maths Lead · Science Lead · Social Studies Lead · Languages Lead · Computing Lead

Whole School Programmes (WSP)

R.E.A.D Lead · M.A.S.T.E.R Lead · S.P.E.A.K Lead · Write Right Lead · C.R.E.A.T.E. Lead · Type Right Lead · L.I.F.E Lead · S.A.V.E Lead

Culture Areas

SEL Lead · EL Lead · PBIS Lead

Whole School Routines

House System Coordinator (ongoing, TLR2) · House Master (time-limited, TLR3)

How progression works

Three steps within every stage.

Within each stage there are three steps — Entry, Core, and Plus. Move up one step per year subject to appraisal; when you demonstrate readiness at Plus, you advance to the next stage’s Entry.

  • Entry

    The on-ramp to a stage. Expectations match the stage’s starting profile; coaching and structured PLD are heaviest here.

  • Core

    The stage fully inhabited. Evidence of practice is consistent, independent, and aligned with Cambridge Standards for the stage.

  • Plus

    The stepping-stone. Practice begins to show traits of the stage above — the signal that a stage change is coming.

Two tracks, one journey

How the dual-track works.

Three principles that together make the framework honest.

  • Paths split at Applying.

    From L (Learning) through E (Exploring), every educator shares the same foundations — Cambridge curriculum, Cosmos programmes, classroom range. At A (Applying), you and your manager agree how you’ll keep growing: by deepening classroom mastery, or by taking on leadership scope.

  • Movement is built in.

    The track you pick at A is a direction, not a life sentence. An educator can step back into the classroom from a leadership role, or lead a short-cycle project without leaving the Teaching Track. Base pay stays with your stage; only the TLR allowance adjusts with the role.

  • Paths reconverge at the top.

    Master Teacher (Teaching Track’s R) and Strategic Leader (Leadership Track’s R) sit at the same height of the profession. One ceiling, two honest ways there, equal pay.

Teaching & Learning Responsibilities

Pay reflects your expertise and your role.

Your stage and step on the L.E.A.D.E.R. timeline set your base pay. If you hold a formal leadership responsibility, a TLR allowanceis added on top — mirroring UK-standard TLR1 / TLR2 / TLR3 practice. Two educators at the same stage and step earn the same base; allowances reward the extra scope a role carries.

Base pay
Your Stage + Step
TLR allowance
Your Role
Total pay
What you take home
Emerging / Proficient Leader (E–A)
TLR3Time-limited Project Roles

Time-limited projects and coordinator roles — typically an academic year, with specific measurable outcomes. The first taste of leading adults; allowance ends when the project or role ends.

Example roles
Cambridge Accreditation LeadAssessment Reform LeadECT Induction CoordinatorEvent CoordinatorHouse Master
Proficient / Expert Leader (A–D)
TLR2Impact Team Leads + Year Group Leads

Year group, curriculum, or whole-school area leadership. Impact Team Leads cover four categories — Core Curriculum, Whole School Programmes (WSP), Culture Areas, and Whole School Routines — alongside Year Group Leads. Impact extends beyond your own classroom.

Example roles
Year Group LeadEnglish / Maths Lead (Core)R.E.A.D / M.A.S.T.E.R Lead (WSP)S.P.E.A.K · C.R.E.A.T.E. · L.I.F.E · S.A.V.E · Write Right · Type Right (WSP)SEL / EL / PBIS Lead (Culture)House System Coordinator (Routines)Special Subject Teacher
Lead / Master Leader (E–R)
TLR1Strategic Leadership (SLT)

Whole-school strategic leadership with line management of Impact Teams and staff appraisal accountability. Only three named roles sit at this tier; Principals and Deputy Principal hold their SLT roles on base pay, without an added TLR.

Example roles
Culture & Climate LeadT&L Interventions LeadLearning Experiences Curator

Step down from a leadership role and your base pay stays intact — only the TLR allowance adjusts. Move up to a bigger role at the same level and your base is unchanged; the TLR steps up. Same level = same base, always.

L.E.A.D.E.R. 2.0 is not a ladder you climb alone. Every stage has a cohort, a set of practical expectations, and a structured PLD pathway — with dedicated time, resources, and coaching. Progression is decided by the Year Group Lead, the Principal, and evidence of practice — not years of service.

The framework maps to Cambridge Primary’s School Leader Standards, so progression aligns with international benchmarks. Senior educators — at Empowering and Reshaping — are expected to mentor colleagues and lead Impact Teams, whichever track they are on.