National Professional Qualification
for Executive Leadership
Are you still finalising your Autumn 2021 NPQ application? Our team is here to assist you.
Full NPQ scholarships are available for candidates from eligible schools - see NPQ Scholarship Update for more information.
National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Executive Leadership
NPQEL gives participants all of the essential knowledge, skills and concepts that underpin successful executive leadership. Participants will cover ‘learn that’ and ‘learn how to’ statements in ten areas:
- 1 – School Culture
- 2 – Teaching
- 3 – Curriculum and Assessment
- 4 – Behaviour
- 5 – Additional and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- 6 – Professional Development
- 7 – Organisational Management
- 8 – Implementation
- 9 – Working in Partnership
- 10 – Governance and Accountability
- See the NPQEL Framework tab for full programme content
What are the benefits?
The fully blended learning approach combined with performance coaching and enrichment activities make this an exciting and valuable opportunity for current and aspiring executive leaders.
The NPQEL 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
- National and international networking
- Increased awareness and understanding of self and of the behaviours needed to lead across multiple organisations
- Opportunity to reflect on relevant research and pedagogy and leadership practice
- Access to high-quality feedback and ongoing interaction with qualified performance coaches
- Increased capability and capacity to take on a multi-school organisation - having the skills, knowledge and understanding to do the job more effectively
Benefits for schools
- Increased national networking and partnership opportunities
- Insight into the systems, sectors and sources of effective leadership practice
- A professionally aware and informed leader who can make evidence-based strategic decisions and approach new challenges in an effective and efficient manner
- The ability to review and evaluate practice in order to bring about change and get the best for young people and staff within the organisation
Videos
Why did you sign up for the NPQEL with OLP?
What has been a highlight of the NPQEL programme for you?
Has the programme made a difference to you personally as a leader in terms of behaviour?
How is NPQEL delivered?
NPQEL makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of face-to-face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
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NPQEL participants will attend 6 face-to-face events (including 1 x 2 day conference) via the blended delivery model. Our nationwide delivery partnership network allows us to bring face-to-face training to a regional conference centre , facilitated by experienced school leaders and facilitators.
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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 performance coaches.
NPQEL Qualification Structure
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Who is this for?
NPQEL is suitable for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher with responsibility for leading several schools and have a minimum of three years as a headteacher or head of school.Requirements
Applicants must be a serving Head Teacher (or equivalent role) with a minimum of 3 years’ experience.
All applicants must have either QTS, QTLS, a Level 5 (or higher) qualification (any subject), or an international equivalent (see below). You must be able to evidence this with a copy of your certificate.
For those with QTS, you can download a copy of your certificate here https://teacherservices.education.gov.uk/SelfService/Login.
For those with QTLS, you can download a copy of your certificate here https://set.et-foundation.co.uk/my-set/my-profile. If for any reason you are unable to provide a copy of your certificate, you will need to ask a representative from the school where you are teaching to contact Capita Teachers' Pensions. Your employer should know how to do this via the Capita employer portal https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/.
If do not have QTS or QTLS, you will need evidence completion of a Level 5 qualification (any subject). For International applicants, you will need to apply for a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability https://enic.org.uk/Qualifications/SOC/Default.aspx to demonstrate your Level 5 qualification is comparable to UK qualifications.
What does it cost?
VAT will not be applied to DfE funded candidates or state-funded schools.
Scholarships
Full scholarship funding, with no cost to the participant, for the NPQ in Executive Leadership is available to those who meet the following criteria:
- are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools
- and work in a state-funded school in England that is within the top 30th percentile in relation to pupils on pupil premium as of the end of the previous academic year
To view the full range of NPQ scholarships and funding pathways available please visit NPQ Funding 2021
Access to funding remains conditional on successful verification of participants’ registration information against Teaching Regulation Agency records, so you must ensure that the information supplied to your NPQ provider matches your teacher record. You can check and update your record via the Teaching Regulation Agency’ Teacher Self-Service Portal.
Apprenticeships
NPQEL Framework
Please see the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership Framework below. If your computer or device does not support the Adobe plugin you can download the framework pdf here.
Next Steps
When you are ready to apply please visit the Online Application Form.
As part of the application process, you will need to identify and nominate a sponsor. This should be someone with a detailed and professional knowledge of the applicant’s work, impact, professional characteristics, and leadership behaviours. Your sponsor will be expected to confirm your commitment and readiness to complete the NPQ, discuss progress and in-school practice at appropriate intervals alongside providing evidence and verification of completed assigned modules and activities where required.