Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
"This NPQ genuinely allows for a measurable shift in your thinking as a teacher and a leader- whether that be at a middle level, existing or aspiring senior leader. The domains within this qualification will reinforce and challenge your existing knowledge of teaching and learning. The implementation projects will undoubtedly benefit your school, students and, of course, help you further your own professional development. This course felt like the most impactful training I have had since my PGCE."
Mike, NPQSL participant Autumn 2021
Who are you?
For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.
If you are responsible for leading a school on whole school improvement or if you aspire to senior leadership.
Is this programme for me?
What will you learn?
- School Culture - you will strengthen your school culture through contributing to its strategic direction, managing resources and fulfilling the statutory duties to enable all pupils and teachers to thrive and succeed.
- Teaching - you will learn how to lead teachers at all levels in your school to develop their pedagogical knowledge and classroom skills to enable the best outcomes for all children and young people no matter what their starting point is.
- Curriculum and Assessment - you will learn how to support and improve high quality teaching, learning and assessment by ensuring high level support, planning and policy development for the teachers in your school.
- Behaviour and Support - you will be able to contribute and implement the development of good models of behaviour and learning across the whole school community including liaising with and training key stakeholders to ensure a safe learning environment for all.
- Implementation - you will learn how to implement change successfully within your context by understanding the stages of implementation and applying them with the support of your facilitators and colleagues.
What are the benefits for you?
Our participants have noted many benefits to studying for an NPQSL. Overall, they outline how the programme has given them professional confidence, time and space to reflect on themselves and the kind of leader they want to become and increased knowledge in their chosen area of study.
You will be able to:
- Develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to implement new professional development initiatives successfully through a supported implementation project.
- Understand what level your skill set is at and recognise what this means for your career path.
- Develop your own leadership persona to become more visible to colleagues.
- Increase your understanding of your school’s structures and how they impact on the school’s learning environment.
- Recognise that change must go through stages and sub-stages and that it must be planned effectively at the outset.
- Access research and materials and have many opportunities to discuss a variety of professional development approaches and models with other teachers.
What are the benefits for your school?
We know that our children and young people need teachers who are committed to their education and are confident learners themselves. Our programmes have been developed with teachers and leaders to:
- Create professionally confident teachers and leaders.
- Grow the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to use the evidence-base for the benefit of their children and young people.
- Retain the best teachers who are excellent, collaborative role models for their schools and communities.
- Inspire leaders who are able to harness the power of rich learning environments for their children and young people no matter the current circumstances.
How long will it take?
8 months followed by an 8 day open book summative case study task.
Venue: - Pate's Grammar School - Cheltenham.
Programme Overview
18 month programme comprising:
- Induction Conference - (full day - face to face)
- Facilitated face to face Peer Learning - (4 x 4.5 hour sessions)
- Face to face delivery events - (3x full day)
Supported by:
- Online Learning
- School based implementation project
- Mentoring
Engagement - There must be a minimum of 90% engagement in the programme for participants to be eligible for final assessment
Assessment - Each NPQ is assessed using a case study approach completed within a specified eight day window at the end of the programme
Am I eligible?
Anyone working in a school, in early years or in childcare can register for an NPQ. You will need a TRN (teacher registration number). If you are not a teacher, the DfE registration process will guide you through how to request one. If you are working in early years or child care you will need the Ofsted unique reference number (URN) of your setting.
Not everyone will be entitled to full funding. Please see the section below for details.
How is it funded?
FREE for all state schools in England in 2023/2024
Currently the DfE are funding all NPQ's for academic year 2023/24 for participants from all state schools in England. However, your school will incur costs in covering your absence so that you can attend in-person events. Teachers from Independent schools are welcome to apply, but will need to self fund.
Full funding is available for all NPQs for teachers and leaders employed by:
- state-funded schools
- state-funded 16 to 19 organisations
- independent special schools
- virtual schools (organisations run by local authorities that support the education of children in care)
- hospital schools
- young offender institutions
Additional funding available for small schools
Targeted support funding is available for some schools. This money goes directly to schools to support participants to do an NPQ. It’s not available for the early headship coaching offer.
- State-funded primary schools with 1 to 150 pupils: Your school will receive a grant payment of £800 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
- State-funded primary schools with more than 150 pupils: Your school will receive a grant payment of £200 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
- State-funded secondary schools with 1 to 600 pupils: Your school will receive a grant payment of £200 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
Please note that funding is only available for each teacher, for each NPQ once i.e. the same teacher cannot repeat the same NPQ and be funded twice.
FAQ's
What if I move schools?
There is no problem with participants moving schools before starting or during their NPQ programme. Your head teacher must approve your initial application. If you then move schools simply inform your new head teacher and ensure you have also updated your details with your delivery partner (Balcarras Teaching School Hub)
What if my personal circumstances change?
There is a deferral process available for any participants who need to take a break from their NPQ for any reason e.g. illness or pregnancy.
There is currently no penalty in place for participants who feel unable to complete the course at all.
Can I work flexibly?
Yes!
The course is designed to be extremely flexible. The self study materials can be completed in chunks or bit-by-bit. They are designed to take, on average, an hour a week but you have full flexibility as to when you complete them.
The in-person sessions (induction and consolidation conferences and 4 peer learning groups) are not flexible. We strongly advise that you attend these in person. However, if you are unable to attend then UCL provide catch up materials to allow you to complete these sections of the course flexibly. You will be given all the dates of these events at the start of your course, to enable you to plan ahead.
What if I don't pass the assessment?
Very detailed feedback is give to participants who complete the final summative assessment, whether they pass or fail. Anyone who fails is also given the opportunity to have a dialogue with their assessment moderator. They then have a second attempt at the assessment within the assessment window of the cohort that follows.
Accordion content