National Professional Qualification
for Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
Deepen your understanding of pedagogy and the science of learning
Awards 30 Master's Credits
Develop the skills to help colleagues plan effective lessons
Apply for Autumn 2023
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National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Leading Teaching
What are the benefits?
The fully blended learning approach combined with performance coaching and enrichment activities make this an exciting and valuable opportunity for those who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
The NPQLT qualification is aligned to Masters credits and can act as a springboard on to Liverpool Hope University’s MA in Leading in Education or the MBA in Educational Leadership.
Benefits for Participants
- Become adept at supporting effective teaching across school
- Develop expertise across a number of specialist areas related to their role (e.g. curriculum and assessment)
- Purpose-built virtual learning environment enabled for mobiles and tablets
- Support to pass the final assessment
- Content contextualised for your locality and updated to reflect national developments and legislation
- Facilitation and support from serving school leaders in outstanding schools and delivery at local venues
Benefits for Schools
- Regular progress updates for mentors and headteachers
- Support succession of school leaders and build a cohesive, impact-focused school leadership team
- A professionally aware and informed leader who can make evidence-based decisions and approach the leading of teaching in an effective and efficient manner
The ability to effectively evaluate current teaching practice, to make informed decisions about any necessary changes, and to effectively implement those changes
How is NPQLT delivered?
A Blended Learning Model
NPQLT makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of face-to-face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
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NPQLT participants will attend 3 face-to-face events via the blended delivery model. Our nationwide partnership delivery network allows us to bring face-to-face training to a school near, facilitated by local school leaders.
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Participants access online learning and support via our virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas. Through Canvas, participants are able to engage with learning communities of peers and access multimedia content. They can also access research and expert school-led practice aligned to the curriculum content for the qualification and receive high-quality feedback from experienced online mentors and in-school coaches.
Leadership Mentor
The leadership mentor is a participant’s main point of contact for the duration of the NPQLT. Their role is to support a participant's progress and development through the programme. They will respond to practice task activities completed for each online course and provide challenge and feedback on each of the formative assessment tasks following their completion. At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school.
In-school Performance Coach
The in-school performance coach, nominated by the participant’s school, will offer support, guidance and challenge to a participant through six planned coaching sessions. They will provide feedback following their completion of formative assessment tasks and monitor and support participant progress through the programme. At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school. See the In-School Performance Coach guide for more information.
NPQLT Qualification Structure
NPQLT Framework
The DfE’s NPQLT framework is based on a robust method of design and development, building on the evidence base and expert guidance already established in the ECF and the ITT Core Content Framework. The NPQ frameworks reflect the Teachers’ Standards and Headteachers' Standards to ensure coherency with the requirements already used by the teaching profession.
Please see the NPQLTD Framework below. If your computer or device does not support the Adobe plugin you can download the framework pdf here.
Who is this for?
The National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT) – is for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
Leading teaching is complex. Although the role varies, many phase leaders, key stage leaders, heads of department (or similar titles) are considered to be part of the middle leadership team. They often directly manage a team of teachers and their work is focussed on supporting effective teaching across the school.
Requirements
To be eligible for the NPQ, applicants must:
- Have full support from their school/organisation. A head teacher, member of the SLT, line manager or Chair of Governors (or similar authoritative role) must confirm their support and that all information submitted is true and correct. This is a Department for Education mandatory requirement.
Outstanding Leaders Partnership require that applicants should also be able to demonstrate:
- QTS and/or QTLS and/or a Level 5 (or higher) qualification in any subject, and/or an international equivalent
- Either 2 full years’ experience of teaching following achieving QTS/QTLS
or
- 2 full years’ experience in current role following completion of Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification if in a non-teaching/pastoral role
- Aspiration / have responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase
If you would like to discuss the above criteria or believe you are suitable but do not suit all criteria, please do contact us at NPQ@bestpracticenet.co.uk
What does it cost?
Candidates from international schools should visit our NPQLT International page for international prices.
Scholarships
Scholarships have been confirmed for the Autumn NPQ intake as part of the government’s long-term education recovery plan.
From autumn 2022, organisations eligible to access scholarships include:
- state-funded schools
- state-funded 16 to 19 organisations
- independent special schools
- virtual schools (local authority run organisations that support the education of children in care)
- hospital schools not already included in other categories of eligible organisations
- young offender institutions
Local authority employed supply teachers will also be able to access scholarships.
Targeted Support Funding
State-funded schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with 1 to 600 pupils will be paid £200 for each teacher or leader they employ who takes an NPQ.
This is to help teachers and leaders in smaller settings who may find it harder to engage with professional development.
This funding will apply to state-funded schools and 16 to 19 educational settings in England that have between 1 and 600 pupils. It will be paid for each NPQ participant in these eligible settings.
Funding is not available for participants taking the early headship coaching offer unless they are also taking another NPQ course.
If you work in a school you can search the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database to check how many pupils are recorded for your school.
If you work in a 16 to 19 education setting you can check a list of 16 to 19 organisations eligible for targeted support funding in the academic year 2022 to 2023.
Payments will be grant funded in arrears via existing Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA) channels the summer after NPQ participants begin their course. Eligibility for targeted support funding will be determined automatically as participants complete the registration process and there is no need to apply for this funding separately.
Contact continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk with any questions.
Next Steps
We are now accepting applications for the Autumn Intake of the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT).
