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National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development
DRET Teaching School Hub work in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) as an Associate College to deliver NPQ Programmes. The NIoT are rooted in schools; they know the unpredictability of school life – the day-to-day challenges that teachers face. Their time-efficient NPQs have been drawn up specifically to meet the needs of time-poor, commitment-heavy teachers and leaders. Teachers know best what teachers need – our programme will give you only the information essential to providing the best education possible for your pupils.
Our National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development is designed for any member of staff who has – or wants to have – responsibility for leading the development of other teachers in their school. This includes anyone interested in mentoring trainees or early-career teachers.
Developed by teachers for teachers, the programme will harness the NIoT’s leading research into what works in the classroom, putting it to immediate, practical use. Because our programme has been designed by teachers, there will be no time wasted: it will provide only the information essential to helping you do your job efficiently, effectively and in a way that inspires pupils to success.
If teaching pupils is a great responsibility, then the teaching of other teachers is equally important – and one that is more vital now than ever.
Our NPQLTD will provide access to cutting-edge research, developed by people who know what teachers need. You’ll be supported in putting new research findings into practice immediately, implementing professional-development programmes that will have a direct impact on classroom teaching.
You will learn to design and deliver effective professional development, to make evidence-informed development decisions and to tailor and adapt support based on individuals’ development needs.
At the heart of it all will be your pupils. Everything you pass on to other teachers will ultimately ensure that your pupils receive the best education possible, and go on to live the fullest lives they possibly can.
Benefits
- Essential knowledge: There is no fluff – every minute spent working towards an NPQLTD will enable you to make a greater impact in your job.
- Research-informed practice: You’ll have access to the latest and best evidence of what works in education, and will be able to apply this to creating a culture of continuous improvement in your school.
- More motivated pupils: Staff feel supported when their school invests time and effort in their development. And supported teachers mean happier, more motivated pupils.
- Managing workload: You’ll develop the skills to help staff plan lessons that meet pupils needs and encourage success, without creating unnecessary workload.
- Community of educators: You’ll be part of a diverse community of educators, all learning from one another during the course – and potentially afterwards, too.
- Fulfilment: The better and more knowledgeable you are at your job, the more enjoyable and exciting you will find it – and that enthusiasm will be passed on to your pupils.
Curriculum
What you'll learn:
- How to design and deliver effective professional development
- How to make informed, evidence-based decisions about professional development
- How to tailor and adapt support, based on individual development needs
How you'll learn:
The programme is made up of four modules, studied over 12 months. Each module contains a combination of self-study units, locally delivered in-person sessions, online masterclasses delivered by specialists, practice clinics and virtual visits to a school.
Time commitment:On average, participants will spend between one and two hours a week working towards the NPQLTD. Where possible, study should be done in dedicated career-development time during school hours.
Assessment
In order to receive NPQLTD accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 1,500 words.
Assessment support clinics will be provided to participants before they embark on gaining their accreditation.
The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window. There are two assessment windows per year and participants have two opportunities to take part.
Cost
You may be able to get your NPQ course fees paid for by the Department for Education (DfE). This is called scholarship funding. You do not need to apply for it.
When you register for an NPQ, DfE will tell you if you are eligible for funding.
From spring 2025, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost will be available to teachers and leaders from:
- schools: the top 50% of state funded schools in England that have the highest proportion of students attracting pupil premium, as set out in the eligibility lists
- 16-19 settings: the top 50% of state funded settings in England that have the highest proportion of students eligible for disadvantage funding
For the early years leadership NPQ, highly disadvantaged early years settings will also be eligible.
You will only be eligible for scholarship funding for the spring 2025 cohort if your setting is on one of the eligible disadvantaged settings lists and you are taking one of the following NPQs:
- leading teacher development
- leading teaching
- leading behaviour and culture
- leading literacy
- senior leadership
- executive leadership
- early years leadership
Eligibility lists for the spring cohort will be made available in early 2025.
Apply
To apply, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibility for leading other educators to develop. You might support all teachers in your school, trainees or those early in their career.
Applications for the April 2025 programme are now open, please apply by clicking the button below.
Apply here