OxfordAQA has announced a series of OxfordAQA teacher training sessions across Pakistan, led by Penny Butterworth, Regional Professional Development Manager, running from September 14 to 18, 2026.
During her visit, Penny worked closely with leading schools in Islamabad and delivered professional development sessions in Karachi and Lahore focused on “Maximising Learning and Exam Performance with OxfordAQA.” The engagement forms part of OxfordAQA’s ongoing commitment to supporting schools across Pakistan through sustained, high-quality professional development for educators.
OxfordAQA Teacher Training: What the Sessions Cover
Designed for teachers and school leaders, the sessions focus on enhancing classroom practice, improving student outcomes, and maximising performance in OxfordAQA assessments. Drawing on her extensive experience in curriculum delivery and assessment, Penny shared practical strategies, evidence-based approaches, and insights to help schools make the most of OxfordAQA qualifications.
Speaking about the sessions, Penny Butterworth said that maximising learning and exam performance starts with effective classroom practice, and that the sessions provide an opportunity to share practical strategies that help teachers build confidence, engagement, and success in OxfordAQA assessments.
Salma Adil, Director OxfordAQA Pakistan, said teachers play a vital role in student success, and that through these sessions, the organisation hopes to support educators with approaches that enhance learning, strengthen assessment readiness, and contribute to positive outcomes for students.
The sessions were structured around interactive workshops rather than one-way lectures, giving teachers the chance to practice new techniques, ask questions specific to their classrooms, and discuss challenges they face when preparing students for OxfordAQA assessments. Organizers say this hands-on format tends to produce better retention and application of new teaching strategies compared to traditional seminar-style training.
Why Professional Development Matters for Pakistani Schools
Through these sessions, participating educators had the opportunity to engage with international best practice, explore effective teaching and assessment strategies, and collaborate with fellow professionals committed to excellence in education. By working directly with teachers and school leaders, OxfordAQA aims to strengthen teaching and learning practices and help students achieve their full potential.
The sessions come at a time when Pakistani schools offering international curricula are increasingly focused on aligning classroom practice with global assessment standards. Professional development programs like this one are seen as a key way to close the gap between local teaching methods and the expectations of international examination boards.
Education experts say that sustained engagement, rather than one-off training sessions, tends to produce the most meaningful improvements in classroom outcomes. OxfordAQA’s approach of returning to work with the same schools over time is intended to build lasting capacity among teachers rather than offering a single isolated workshop.
School administrators who hosted sessions in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore said the training gave their staff practical tools they could apply immediately in the classroom, rather than abstract theory disconnected from day-to-day teaching. Several schools have already expressed interest in hosting follow-up sessions later in the academic year to build on the initial training.
Schools interested in future OxfordAQA professional development opportunities are encouraged to stay in touch with the organisation’s Pakistan office for updates on upcoming sessions and training programs planned for the rest of the academic year.
For more on efforts to modernize education access in Pakistan, see our coverage of Sindh’s digital classrooms initiative for special children, which similarly focuses on strengthening teaching capacity alongside new infrastructure. For the original announcement, see ProPakistani’s coverage.