NPQ for Leading Teaching
Our NPQLT is designed for teachers and leaders who are seeking to develop their expertise in leading the teaching of others, through leading a subject, year group or phase.
NPQs at the National Institute of Teaching are school-led: our organisation was founded by four leading multi-academy trusts, and our programmes are designed and delivered with a focus on the realities of schools. Because teachers’ time is precious, our programmes are respectful of your time, and designed to have immediate impact on the pupils and colleagues in your school, as well as the colleagues and children you will work with in the future.
- Overview
- Why study at the NIoT?
- What you'll learn
- How you'll learn
- Time commitment
- Location
- Assessment
- How to apply
- Funding
Overview
The role of a middle leader is pivotal in any school, and one of the most important aspects of your work is how you develop the individuals who stand in front of your young people every day. Through developing your ability to guide and improve the practice of those you work with, you will help the children in your school achieve their potential.
The NPQLT will develop your knowledge of what makes great teaching. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge through deliberate practice with peers and expert facilitators, helping you to secure the leadership behaviours that will help you to lead others well in teaching. By working to secure the excellent practice of your colleagues, you will impact the outcomes and experiences of a broader range of pupils in your setting.
Why study at the NIoT?
The National Institute of Teaching was founded by four leading multi-academy trusts. Our programmes are underpinned by leading research and driven by what we have found works best in schools. Through our programmes, we aim to ensure participants develop their leadership to ensure their hard work and dedication has the maximum impact on pupils.
Our programmes are school-led: they are delivered by individuals who work in schools, right now. That means they have the in-depth, domain-specific knowledge to help you grapple with content at the right level, and to support you to problem-solve and apply learning to your own context.
Our programmes are centred on impact: our aim is for your practice to improve and develop in your current context, and for you to be ready and to take the next step in your career as a result of learning with us. We have designed our programmes carefully, and work closely with school leaders through our regional structures, as well as working with participants, to ensure our programmes are impactful in your context.
Our programmes are respectful of your time: we know you spend most of your time doing the most important job there is – serving the children in your community. That’s why our programmes are designed to be flexible, to deliver exactly what you need in the most time-efficient manner possible, and to have impact.
Our programmes are rooted in research: every aspect of what you learn is based on the best available research as well as what we have seen and experienced to work best in our founding multi-academy trusts and associate colleges.
Our programmes allow you to build a community: our in-person local seminars are focused on peer learning and problem solving together. As well as applying your learning to your own context, you will have the opportunity to build your network and support one another’s development beyond your time learning with the NIoT.
What you'll learn
- How to contribute to creating a culture of high expectations for young people as well as a culture that is conducive to colleagues’ professional development in your setting
- How to develop colleagues’ planning and delivery of evidence-informed practice
- How to design and develop a well-sequenced, coherent curriculum
- How to help colleagues adapt their planning and teaching to meet the needs of all pupils
- How to design assessments that lead to valid and reliable data and increased pupil learning, and which do not overly burden teachers
How you'll learn
Local seminars: extend your learning with an expert, school leader facilitator, build your network and apply your learning to your own context.
Virtual school visits: visit some of the country’s leading schools, learning about how they have developed and improved their practice over time to deliver exceptional outcomes and experiences for young people.
Online masterclasses: hear school-based sector experts sharing best practice from their context and experience.
Online practice clinics: apply your learning to scenarios and to your own context, trouble-shooting with an expert school-based practice lead.
Online self-studies: learn cutting-edge research and how it is being applied successfully in schools.
Time commitment
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person and around six to eight hours of self study.
Location
Please contact npq@niot.org.uk so that we can let you know your nearest National Institute of Teaching delivery school or centre.
We can confirm that we will be delivering NPQs in schools near the following locations:
North and West: Blackburn, Manchester, Leyland and Skelmersdale
South, East and London: Norwich, London and South Essex
North and East: Tyne and Wear, Doncaster, Redcar, Halifax, Gateshead, Washington, Peterlee and Grimsby
South and West: Birmingham, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall, Swindon, South Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Worcester and Walsall
More locations will be added regularly, please check back/apply and we’ll confirm if there’s delivery near you.
Assessment
In order to receive NPQLT accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 1,500 words.
We will support participants with writing clinics before they embark on gaining their accreditation.
The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window. There are two assessment windows per year and participants have two opportunities to take part.
How to apply
To join the next NIoT NPQLT cohort, please complete our online application form.
Applications close on 20th October.
Funding
The DfE is yet to announce the funding available for NPQs for the April 2025 cohort. The programme cost is £850
Contact us
Please get in touch to find out more about our programmes and find out where we are delivering them near you.