Which NPQ is right for you?

As an experienced teacher or school leader, exploring the plethora of different options for your own professional development can be a little overwhelming. Here at the National Institute of Teaching, we offer 10 types of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) suited to different seniorities and specialisms that can provide a launchpad for the next step in your career.

But which NPQ is right for you? To help you decide, we've summarised the key features of each programme below. You can also download our handy at-a-glance guide here.

Our suite of NPQs are designed to enhance leadership skills and equip and empower educators with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to lead with confidence and make a positive impact in schools. They are school-led programmes, focusing on the realities of school life, respecting the precious time of teachers and ensuring immediate impact on pupils and colleagues.

Let’s explore what we offer:

Specialist NPQs

All our specialist NPQ programmes:

• Are 12 months long
• Include online self-study that you can access flexibly
• Encompass three one-day conferences, virtual visits to two schools and two masterclasses where you will hear from expert serving leaders
• Develop your leadership skills through practice clinics.

NPQ in Leading Teaching

Our NPQ in Leading Teaching is for ambitious classroom teachers and middle leaders aspiring to become head of subject, year group, key stage or phase and designed to enhance expertise in leading the teaching of others.

The program is designed to deepen your understanding of effective teaching methods and offers a chance to apply this knowledge through intentional practice alongside peers and experienced facilitators. This process helps you cultivate the leadership qualities necessary to elevate the teaching standards of your colleagues. By fostering excellence in your team's teaching practices, you positively influence the academic achievements and overall experiences of a wider range of students within your school.

NPQ in Leading Teacher Development

Our NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is ideal for aspiring or current leaders of professional development, including training and mentoring of trainees or Early Career Teachers.

The NPQ equips you with a deep understanding of evidence-based practices and effective strategies to support colleagues in learning and implementing these methods. Whether it’s implementing new strategies, refining assessment techniques, or fostering collaboration, the program emphasises applying this knowledge to your specific school context, ensuring your efforts are tailored to meet your setting’s needs. By enhancing your ability to develop others, you will empower the young people in your school to not only reach but surpass their potential.

NPQ in Leading Behaviour Change

Our NPQ in Leading Behaviour Change is designed for ambitious teachers and leaders, including behaviour-management leads and SENCOs who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibility for managing behaviour, culture and pupil wellbeing in their year group, phase, or whole school.

The programme is designed to deepen your comprehensive understanding of school behaviour and culture while providing practical strategies for implementation in your own setting. Through this course, you'll enhance your ability to guide both pupils and colleagues, creating a warm and positive school culture that promotes exceptional learning outcomes.

NPQ in Leading Literacy

Our NPQ in Leading Literacy is for ambitious teachers and middle leaders, responsible for or aspiring to lead literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase.

The programme equips participants by deepening their understanding of the latest literacy research and empowers them to apply these insights to your specific context. With this advanced knowledge and skill set, you'll be equipped to lead your colleagues effectively, maximising their impact on the literacy development of the children they teach.

NPQ in Leading Primary Maths

A strong start in numeracy is crucial for children to reach their full potential both in education and future careers.

Our NPQ in Leading Primary Maths is an exciting new programme which equips teachers with knowledge, skills, experience and a network to lead maths in a primary phase or whole school. This course builds on existing knowledge as an experienced teacher or middle leader, in addition to prior learning about maths mastery, and focuses on what to know and do to effectively lead and guide colleagues in delivering effective maths teaching. It will deepen your understanding of developing and implementing a cohesive Maths curriculum.

Leadership NPQs

All of our leadership NPQ programmes:

• Are 18 months long
• Include online self-study that you can access flexibly
• Encompass four one-day conferences, virtual visits to three schools and hearing from expert serving leaders in three masterclasses (five for NPQEL)
• Develop your leadership skills through group coaching (and one to one for NPQEL).

NPQ in Senior Leadership

Our NPQ for Senior Leadership is designed for teachers and leaders who hold, or aspire to hold, whole-school leadership responsibilities.

The programme is designed to enhance understanding and comprehensive knowledge of all facets of school operations and leadership, which can be applied to real-world situations and common leadership challenges. This ensures you're equipped to advance in your career pathway and create optimal conditions for student success.

NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs)

Our NPQ for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) is designed for experienced teachers and leaders seeking to develop their expertise in leading special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in their school or to become a SENCO.

Guided by experienced SENCOs, you'll gain expertise needed to lead and improve practices across school. By enhancing the skills of your colleagues, you can significantly impact the outcomes and opportunities available to young people with SEND. This qualification ensures you are prepared to make a lasting difference in the lives of your students, whether it’s tailoring interventions for specific students or championing inclusive teaching practices. SENCOs are at the forefront of unlocking potential and creating an equitable learning environment.

NPQ in Early Years Leadership

Our NPQ in Early Years Leadership is designed for ambitious Level 3 early-years leaders with a full and relevant qualification, who want to be – or already are – nursery managers (private, voluntary or independent), headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries, or childminders with leadership responsibilities.

The NPQ is designed to deepen understanding of child development and learning. You'll gain evidence-based insights and pedagogy from colleagues experienced in working with very young children and babies. You'll have the opportunity to visit outstanding settings to see first-hand how effective leaders create thriving learning environments that ignite curiosity, creativity, and joy and learn practical strategies you can implement immediately in your own setting, while also supporting your long-term career growth.

NPQ in Headship

Our NPQ in Headship is designed for ambitious school leaders aiming to be or currently serving as headteachers or heads of school with responsibility for leading a school.

Our NPQ in Headship, crafted by headteachers from some of the nation’s highest-performing schools, offers you a rich learning experience and the chance to learn from these exemplary leaders. Throughout the program, you’ll engage with these accomplished leaders and benefit from their insights as they facilitate your sessions, drawing inspiration from their stories shared in masterclasses, and during virtual school visits. This programme will arm you with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate and thrive in this demanding, pivotal and complex role, while also allowing you to tailor what you learn to your own educational setting.

NPQ in Executive Leadership

Our NPQ in Executive Leadership is developed for experienced leaders or those who aspire to lead across multiple schools, whether this is as an Executive Headteacher or a trust-wide role.

This course is designed to enhance your understanding of the essential leadership skills required for Executive Leaders. You will also hone your ability to lead others across a wide scope of responsibilities. As part of a national cohort of aspiring leaders, you will engage with colleagues from across the country, learning from each other and benefiting from the insights of top-performing Executive Leaders who design and deliver this program.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, a behaviour-management lead, or an aspiring headteacher, explore our NPQs providing targeted professional career development to enhance your leadership journey. Join us in shaping the future of education.

For further information visit the NIoT Programmes page for teacher training that is informed by research and designed in schools and you can apply here.

For further information check out our 'Which NPQ is right for you' guide.