NPQ for Leading Teaching

A National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Dixons teaching staff who wish to unpack and apply learning in teaching, curriculum, and assessment – and to support others to develop in these areas.

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 develop expertise in the knowledge, skills and concepts for specialist areas related to your role. These include subject and curriculum, classroom practice and adaptive teaching. Our content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from serving school leaders and subject matter experts. You’ll be supported to make small but important changes to your and others’ practice throughout the programme.

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 teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.

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

Roles may include:

• Head of faculty / department / subject / phase
• Head of year
• Class teacher

Please note, this list is not exhaustive.

Programme curriculum

The programme follows the Department of Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Leading Teaching Framework, that will cover:

• explaining important ideas about the science of learning
• supporting colleagues to design a broad and coherent curriculum
• planning effective lessons and stimulate your students' thinking
• helping colleagues adapt their teaching to different needs
• contributing to the design of school assessment systems
• aligning your professional development with wider school improvement priorities.

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.