NPQ for Leading Teaching

Improve teaching quality and pupil outcomes across your school with the NPQ for Leading Teaching (NPQLT).

The programme will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead high-quality teaching within your subject, phase or department.

You’ll develop expertise in how pupils learn, what makes teaching effective, and how to support colleagues to improve their classroom practice. You’ll also learn how to use evidence-informed approaches to drive consistent, high-quality teaching across your area of responsibility.

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

Ideal for heads of department, curriculum leaders, subject leaders and others leading improvements in teaching and curriculum.

Teachers and school leaders who:

• have, or aspire to have, responsibility for leading teaching within a subject, phase or department.
• are current or aspiring middle leaders.
• want to improve teaching quality and consistency across their area.

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

• how pupils learn and how this should inform teaching.
• what constitutes high-quality teaching and how to implement it consistently.
• designing and sequencing curriculum to support effective learning.
• using assessment to check understanding and inform teaching.
• supporting colleagues to improve their classroom practice.
• using evidence and data to identify priorities and drive improvement.
• leading teaching within a subject, phase or department.
• contributing to a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement.

Our NPQ for Leading Teaching 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 34 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 high-quality teaching and leadership in practice
• Online masterclasses – hear from experienced school leaders and subject experts
• Self-study modules – engage with research and evidence-informed teaching approaches
• Implementation discussions – structured support to help you apply your learning in your school

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 school 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 deliver NPQs in schools and centres across England.

Please contact your regional delivery team, who can let you know your nearest National Institute of Teaching delivery school or centre:

East, South and London: [email protected]

South and West: [email protected]

North and East: [email protected]

North and West: [email protected]

We can confirm that we will be delivering NPQs in schools near the following locations:

North and West: Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston.

South, East and London: Essex, Hertfordshire, North East London, Norwich, South East London, Suffolk, Sutton, Surrey.

North and East: Doncaster, Gateshead, Grimsby, Halifax, Leicestershire, Newcastle, Peterlee, Redcar, Tyne and Wear, Washington.

South and West: Birmingham, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dudley, Gloucestershire, Sandwell, Somerset, South Staffordshire, Swindon, Walsall, Worcester.

• Develop expertise in leading high-quality teaching
• Build confidence to support and challenge colleagues
• Gain a nationally recognised qualification
• Apply evidence-informed approaches to improve classroom practice
• Enhance your career progression opportunities

• Improved quality and consistency of teaching
• Stronger curriculum implementation
• Better pupil outcomes and progress
• Increased leadership capacity within departments or phases

To complete the NPQLT, 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, teaching within a subject, phase or department

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 Teaching 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 learning
• Designed for impact – apply your learning directly in your classroom and school
• Built around your role – manageable alongside your teaching commitments
• Collaborative – learn alongside peers and build a strong professional network

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