NPQ for Leading Teacher Development

Develop teachers and improve outcomes across your school with the NPQ for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD).

The programme will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to design and lead high-quality professional development for teachers at every stage of their career.

You’ll learn how to support colleagues to improve their practice, use evidence-informed approaches to professional learning, and build a culture of continuous development across your school.

This is a nationally recognised qualification designed to help you lead teacher development effectively and make a lasting impact on teaching quality and pupil outcomes.

Teachers and school leaders who:

• have responsibility for, or aspire to lead, teacher development in their school
• are involved in mentoring, coaching or training colleagues
• want to design and deliver impactful professional development programmes

On this NPQ for Leading Teacher Development, you will develop expertise in:

• how teachers learn and develop, based on the best available evidence
• designing and implementing effective professional development programmes
• using instructional coaching and mentoring to improve teaching practice
• supporting early career teachers and more experienced colleagues
• creating a culture of continuous professional development across a school
• evaluating the impact of professional development on teaching and pupil outcomes
• aligning professional development with school priorities and improvement plans
• leading and supporting others to deliver high-quality training and development

Our NPQ for Leading Teacher Development is delivered over 12 months through a blended learning model designed to fit around your role in school.

The programme consists of five modules and a final assessment. It includes 36 hours of online self-study, plus virtual school visits and masterclasses, plus three in-person days (each six hours), featuring practice clinics and coaching.

The programme includes:

• Local seminars - learn with expert facilitators and apply your learning in context
• Virtual school visits - see how effective teacher development is implemented in schools
• Online masterclasses - hear from experienced school leaders and sector experts
• Self-study modules - engage with research and evidence-informed practice
• Implementation discussions - structured in-school support to help you apply your learning

You’ll also have access to a library of masterclasses and resources throughout the programme.

There are typically two to three scheduled sessions each half term, combining online and in-person learning. You should also expect around 4-6 hours of self-study per half term.

Local seminars take place during the working week and during term time. Schools should plan for participant attendance as part of their professional development commitment.

The programme is designed to be manageable alongside your existing role.

We have a wide network of delivery locations that allow us to reach participants from most areas. Reach out to your regional delivery team to find out which is closest to you.

North and West: Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

South, East and London: Essex, Hertfordshire, North East London, Norwich, South East London, Suffolk, Sutton, Surrey. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

North and East: Doncaster, Gateshead, Grimsby, Halifax, Leicestershire, Newcastle, Peterlee, Redcar, Tyne and Wear, Washington. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

South and West: Birmingham, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dudley, Gloucestershire, Sandwell, Somerset, South Staffordshire, Swindon, Walsall, Worcester. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

• Develop expertise in leading teacher development and professional learning
• Build confidence in mentoring, coaching and training colleagues
• Gain a nationally recognised qualification
• Apply evidence-informed approaches to improve teaching practice
• Enhance your career progression opportunities

• Improved quality of teaching across the school
• Stronger professional development and training programmes
• Better support for early career teachers and staff at all levels
• Increased staff retention and development

To complete the NPQLTD, you will:

• Engage fully with the programme
• Complete a written, ‘open book’ assessment (up to 1,500 words)

The assessment:

• Takes place over an eight-day window
• Assesses your understanding and application of programme content
• Includes two opportunities to pass

We will support you with writing clinics, provide you with live assessment support webinars and self-directed guidance materials before you gain your accreditation.

This programme is suitable for:

• Teachers responsible for, or aspiring to lead, teacher development

Your school may be eligible for scholarship funding, please click here to find out more.

Applications for the November 2026 cohort are now open. You can apply here.

To apply, you will need:

• full understanding of eligibility criteria
• agreement from school/employer to apply for this programme
• support from school to take part in the programme and implement learning
• your Teacher Reference Number (A TRN is a 7-digit number that uniquely identifies you in the education sector in England. This will be validated with the Department for Education, please ensure you enter the correct TRN. Not sure what your teacher reference number is? You can find out here)
• school/setting unique reference number (URN), address, contact number, number of pupils on roll, % of pupils eligible for free school meals
• a summary of your current leadership responsibilities and a 200-word statement about why you wish to complete this programme
• name, job title and email address of nominated implementation advisor, name, job title and email address of referee and invoicing contact name, address and email address.

For the November 2026 cohort, funding is available to schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils as well as early years and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage. Find out more about funding and eligibility criteria here.

If your school is not eligible for funding, the NPQ for Leading Teacher Development costs £850.

The National Institute of Teaching is a higher education provider founded by schools, for schools.

• School-led - learn from experienced practitioners working in schools today
• Evidence-informed - grounded in the latest research on teaching and professional development
• Designed for impact - apply your learning directly in your school context
• Built around your role - manageable alongside your teaching commitments
• Collaborative - learn alongside peers and build a strong professional network

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