Leadership NPQs
There are four NPQs which cater to teachers in leadership, or aspiring towards leadership:
- NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL).
- NPQ in Headship (NPQH).
- NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL).
- NPQ in Special Education Needs (SENCO)
- Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO)
The content in these NPQs has been adapted based on an evidence base approved by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). Find out more about the leadership NPQs in Ambition Institute’s explainer.
"Schools can have confidence that all their educators are developing their practice from the same evidence-based framework."
Five ways NPQs will make professional development work better for your school:
1. They provide a ‘golden thread’ throughout every stage of a teacher’s career
Schools and trusts can have confidence that all their educators, from classroom teachers to leaders of multiple schools, are building and developing their practice from the same evidence-based framework.
2. You have more options to keep getting better
Evidence tells us that high-quality professional development for teachers has a significant effect on pupils’ learning outcomes and provides the most cost-effective impact on attainment when compared with other interventions schools may consider.
Teachers can specialise in leading teaching (bringing evidence-based teaching and learning into the classroom), behaviour management or teacher development in their school. The NPQs are designed to be complementary, giving teachers multiple career pathways and options at every stage.
3 . NPQs focus squarely on what educators need to know and be able to do
Even in non-pandemic times, teachers and school leaders make decisions in complex and challenging circumstances. Yet leadership CPD has often focussed on personal traits, such as the qualities of dynamic and charismatic leadership, rather than the crucial skills and sector knowledge teachers need to educate and lead in their schools.
The NPQs pay less attention to generic management and leadership styles, and instead focus on the knowledge and skills that teachers and school leaders need to work to the best of their ability and tackle the persistent problems of their daily roles.
4 . The qualifications are informed by robust evidence
The NPQ frameworks have been developed by looking at all the available evidence that exists on effective professional development for teachers and leaders. Evidence-based training allows quality teaching to be demystified and adopted by more teachers, informed by the science of learning.
5 . High-quality professional development can help boost attainment
Commissioned by Wellcome, a study by Ambition Institute and the Education Policy Institute found that 35 hours of high-quality continuing professional development a year could improve pupil outcomes almost as effectively as having a teacher with 10 years’ experience in the classroom. The study also found that quality CPD improves teacher retention.
NPQs are designed to make it even easier for teachers and leaders to realise their potential.
NPQs and Ambition Institute
At Ambition Institute help schools tackling educational disadvantage to keep getting better, and help their teachers and school leaders to become more expert over time. That’s how together, we’ll make sure every child gets a great education and the best possible start in life.