NPQ for Leading Teacher Development

A specialist National Professional Qualification (NPQ) delivered in partnership, for teachers who aspire to become an expert teacher educator and learn how to successfully support others to improve.

We are proud to deliver the National Professional Qualifications in partnership with our delivery partner, Ambition Institute alongside Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust and Beckfoot Trust. To read about how we work in partnership for the NPQs click here.

What are the programme benefits?

As part of a fully blended learning approach that is designed to fit around your role, you will learn the strategies needed to support you in becoming adept in supporting initial teacher training, early career teachers as well as the wider development of all colleagues across the school. You will also strengthen your ability to design effective CPD that makes a genuine difference to student outcomes and how to implement change successfully within your context by understanding the stages of implementation and applying them with the support of your facilitators and colleagues.

Who is this programme suitable for?

This programme is suitable for Dixons teaching staff who have completed the early career framework who have or aspire to have, responsibilities for leading other educators and who want to:

• become adept in supporting initial teacher training, early career teachers as well as the wider development of all colleagues across the school
• develop expertise across a number of specialist areas related to their role (e.g. designing professional development)

• purpose-built virtual learning environment enabled for mobiles and tablets
• support to pass the final assessment
• content contextualised for your locality and updated to reflect national developments and legislation
• facilitation and support from serving school leaders in outstanding schools and delivery at local venues

Participants must be in, or have been in, a teaching role.

Roles may include:

• Assistant principal / associate assistant principal
• Vice principal / assistant vice principal / associate AVP
• Head of faculty / department / subject / phase
• Head of year
• Head of early years
• Second in maths / equivalent
• SENCO
• Head of ITT

Please note, this list is not exhaustive.

Programme curriculum

The programme follows the Department of Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Leading Teacher Development Framework, that will include learning on:

• making sure professional development in your school is focused on a shared responsibility for improving outcomes for all students
• diagnosing what teachers know and can do, starting professional development from that point and adapting the approach based on their developing expertise
• helping teachers improve through evidence-based professional development focused on improving classroom teaching
• gaining an understanding of what teachers have learned by reviewing patterns of performance over a number of assessments
• developing and leading a team of colleagues who can facilitate a range of professional development approaches
• contributing to a programme of professional development for mentors, trainees and early career teachers

What is the commitment?

Over 12 months you will:

• attend one all day, face-to-face conference
• attend five twilight two-hour facilitated clinics
• attend one two-hour assessment clinic
• attend three online peer-led community groups
• complete six online courses (six modules per course)

At the end of the programme, you will be supported in completing an open book structured assessment of up to 1500 words over a period of eight days.

There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can sit the assessment two times, if they need to.

Next steps for Dixons teachers

Please complete an expression of interest form, or speak to your CPD lead.

This programme involves submitting an application directly to Ambition Institute and onboarding with them.

Centre for Growth will support you with the application and onboarding process.