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National Professional Qualifications

Swindon and Wiltshire Teaching School Hub are proud to work with Ambition Institute to support teachers on all NPQs. If you would be interested in completing an NPQ, please declare your interest by clicking the below link. 

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

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
Leading Teacher Development
Leading Behaviour and Culture
Leading Literacy
Leading Primary Maths

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.

 

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
Headship
Executive Leadership
Early Years Leadership
SENCO

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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