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National Professional Qualifications

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Our flexible and tailored NPQ courses offer an in-depth curriculum in specific areas such as Headship, Senior Leadership and Leading Teacher Development – to name a few. 

Designed by teachers, NPQs are delivered through our partnership with Ambition Institute. The content is of the highest quality – ensuring you always learn from the most up-to-date and relevant academic literature. 

The NPQ Senior Leadership has helped me to see theory and reason behind choices we make as a school, faculty and classroom teacher. 

The module on assessment has helped to establish some of the changes we are thinking of making.

- Secondary Senior Leader -

What courses are available?

  • NPQ Executive Leadership 
  • NPQ Headship 
  • NPQ Leading Behaviour and Culture 
  • NPQ Leading Teacher Development 
  • NPQ Senior Leadership
  • NPQ Leading Teaching 
  • NPQ Early Years Leadership 
  • NPQ Leading Literacy 
  • NPQ Leading Primary Maths
  • NPQ SENCO

View short videos on each course.

The NPQ Leading Literacy has supported me in leading phonics and early reading more effectively. 

I feel empowered with supporting colleagues with best practice and being able to share my learning with them.

- Primary Year Lead -

What’s in it for me?

All courses are facilitated by experienced and passionate staff who follow a research-informed curriculum designed to have the most impact. 

Here are the highlights: 

  • Free – the whole suite of National Professional Qualifications won’t cost you or your school a penny. 
  • Supercharge your knowledge and skills – helping to develop you, your school, and your students. 
  • Nationally recognised qualification – a brilliant addition to your CV. 
  • Expert-led – with all courses facilitated by an expert, you’ll receive excellent teaching and the opportunity to have your questions answered by the people who know best. 
  • Variety – whether you’re looking to develop a literacy specialism or focus on Early Years Leadership, there’s an NPQ for you. 

And if that’s not enough, you’ll also have the comfort of knowing you’re not in it alone. You’ll have access to discussions, resources, and insights from other professionals on the same path as you – enabling you to build your network and providing you with an invaluable support system.  

What’s in it for my school?

Excellent teachers and leaders = better student outcomes.  

Investing in your staff’s continuing professional development (CPD) not only builds their confidence and skillset, but also contributes to a stronger, more efficient workforce which works together to bring the best out of every child.  

Better yet, all courses are fully funded so your school can reap the rewards without having to pay a penny. 

Read Ambition Institute's blog to find out more about how NPQs will work for your school.  

Specialist NPQs

Course content 

Whether you’re a classroom teacher or leader, there are four Specialist courses designed for you. 

Leading Teaching 
Learn how to build the most effective classroom which has the highest impact on your students. You’ll uncover the mechanics of outstanding teaching and finish the course confident in your ability to deliver and implement what you’ve learnt consistently. 

Leading Teacher Development
Interested in building the skills of others? This course enables you to explore theories of successful teacher development and share best practices and insights with colleagues. Perfect for mentors, subject heads, and teachers. 

Leading Behaviour and Culture
Building a team-wide, subject wide or school-wide shared culture can be daunting. This course will help you to understand the demands, digest research, and effectively plan to implement a strategy for culture within your specific context. 

Leading Literacy
Develop the skills required to effectively monitor and assess and ensure literacy teaching is successful. Ideal for anyone leading literacy in their school or MAT, this course will leave you empowered and full of ideas to implement.  

Leading Primary Maths

This carefully sequenced, evidence-informed programme, designed for those familiar with mastery approaches, enhances mastery expertise and provides access to key research in teaching and school leadership through a primary and maths lens. You will benefit from a flexible 'little and often' structure and no large end-of-programme project.

Structure and Assessment 

Course length: 12 months 

  • One face-to-face conference – an introductory conference which usually takes place in Swindon. 
  • Six online clinics – Microsoft Teams meetings led by the course facilitator in which you’ll examine case studies and apply your learnings in specific contexts. 
  • Six online communities – peer-to-peer sessions to share best practice and a safe space to learn and network. 

With six modules, courses are structured so that you complete independent online learning and then apply what you’ve learnt in the following community and clinic session. 

To complete the course, you must: 

  • Have at least 90% attendance at face-to-face and online sessions 
  • Complete all the online course modules 
  • Submit a 1,500-word response to a case study scenario presenting your approach and solution 

The NPQ Leading Teaching has increased my ability to take staff with me, develop greater aspects on retrieval and improve my communication.

- Secondary Head of Subject -

For me, the NPQLTD course is a great foundation for teachers looking for new leadership opportunities. The course branches to all forms of teaching, focusing on memory models, sequenced learning, formative assessments, culture, and systems. The course is not about how to deliver these aspects to students but to be a leader of teachers, to lead teachers into accomplishing these areas. The course provides scenarios to offer you the chance to gain different perspectives on scenarios. This has really allowed me to be confident in my next step in teaching.

- Kishan Khetia from Glenmoor Academy -

Leadership NPQs

Course content 

If you’ve already completed one or two of the Specialist courses, or have gained experience that you’d like to further, a Leadership course is for you. 

Senior Leadership
Perfect for aspiring senior leaders, this course will challenge you to evaluate your leadership style and help you to develop knowledge and expertise to improve the outcomes for teachers and students in your school.  

Headship
Gain the knowledge and skills to be the confident, effective leader your school needs. Designed to be suitable for recently appointed Heads as well as those looking to apply to future Headship roles. 

Executive Leadership
Explore the rewards and challenges of leading change and improvement across a group of schools or MAT, whilst surrounded by a like-minded cohort.  

Early Years Leadership
Ideal for staff looking to specialise in Early Years or develop their existing knowledge and skillset, this course equips you with the expertise to manage staff effectively and provide high-quality care and education – tailored to primary and nursery settings. 

SENCO

Learn the essential knowledge, skills and concepts that underpin successful SEND provision. Aimed at aspiring and current SENDCOs, as well as staff looking to develop their school's SEND provision, this course sets out what you should know and be able to do within the specialist areas, helping your school to continuously improve.

Structure and Assessment 

  • Course length: 18 months 
  • Two face-to-face conferences – usually taking place in Swindon. 
  • Eight online clinics – Microsoft Teams meetings led by the course facilitator in which you’ll examine case studies and apply your learnings in specific contexts. 
  • Eight online communities – peer-to-peer sessions to share best practice and a safe space to learn and network. 

With eight modules, courses are structured so that you complete independent online learning and then apply what you’ve learnt in the following community and clinic session. 

To complete the course, you must: 

  • Have at least 90% attendance at face-to-face and online sessions 
  • Complete all online course modules 
  • Submit a 1,500-word response to a case study scenario presenting your approach and solution 
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