Why us?
Choose our NPQ in Leading Teacher Development and you’ll be joining over 25,000 teachers and school leaders (as of November 23), who have decided on an Ambition NPQ since they launched in 2021.
On our NPQLTD, you’ll benefit from our evidence-informed curriculum so can lead professional development that improves teaching and learning for every colleague your work with.
Throughout the course, you’ll get access to the key research on areas including how we learn, the importance of carefully sequenced professional development, and enabling conditions for effective teacher improvement. Rather than spending your time sourcing the latest insights, you’ll instead focus on putting your learning into practice.
Our ‘little and often’ approach means you’ll need on average just one hour per week to engage in our NPQs, helping you to fit your NPQLTD around your timetable.
And with our growing network, you’ll train alongside fellow teachers with similar responsibilities, with content focusing on the key challenges you face in your role.
Plus, on our NPQs there’s no large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ assessment with support via a live webinar and clinics available to help you get the most from your NPQ.
Benefits for you
Become a teaching expert
The new NPQs are designed to give you high quality professional development. All the training is evidence-based and informed by the science of learning.
Champion quality teaching
Many teachers who end up in leadership roles haven’t had any formal training to become teacher educators. This programme fills that gap by giving you the knowledge and insight to make classroom teaching in your school the best it can be.
Learn to your timetable
This programme is designed to fit around your busy teaching role. Much of the work can be completed in short bursts around your existing schedule.
Connect with peers
You’ll get to train and collaborate with other teacher leaders on the programme, sharing your experiences and building a network.
Benefits for your school
Develop a golden thread
The new NPQ framework continues 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.
Create confident leaders
Teachers who complete this programme will be able to successfully oversee staff development, leading to better teaching at your school and improved pupil outcomes.
Increase staff attainment
By investing in your teachers, you are showing confidence in their abilities. After completing the programme, they are more likely to stay in their roles and help you nurture the next generation of teaching talent.
More options for improvement
The new specialist NPQs are designed to be complementary, giving teachers multiple career pathways and options at every stage of their careers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the NPQLTD programme for?
The NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is designed for serving teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibility for leading other educators to develop. You might support all teachers across your school, teacher trainees, or early career teachers.
You might be a headteacher or principal; deputy or assistant headteacher; head of teaching development; CPD lead; head of department, phase, key stage or subject; or classroom teacher.
How long does the NPQLTD programme last?
The NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is a twelve month programme, with a mixture of live, facilitated sessions and self-directed learning.
How does the NPQLTD programme accommodate busy schedules?
The NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is designed to fit around your schedule with a 'little and often' approach that aligns with insights from the science of learning.
Is the NPQLTD programme fully funded?
The NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is fully funded for teachers and school leaders, at eligible schools and organisations in England, by the Department for Education. Find out more about the eligibility criteria in the 'Funding' tab.
Are there any specific requirements to enrol on the NPQLTD programme?
To be eligible for the NPQ in Leading Teacher Development, you must be a serving teacher in a school or eligible organisation in England and have completed your early career training.
Curriculum
Our NPQ in Leading Teacher Development course follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Leading Teacher Development Framework.
On this programme, you will learn how to:
- make sure professional development in your school is focused on a shared responsibility for improving outcomes for all pupils
- diagnose what teachers know and can do, starting professional development from that point and adapting the approach based on developing their expertise
- help teachers improve through evidence-based professional development focused on improving classroom teaching
- gain an understanding of what teachers have learned by reviewing patterns of performance over a number of assessments develop and lead a team of colleagues who can facilitate a range of professional development approaches
- contextualise teacher development based on a variation of school, pupils and teacher needs.
- contribute to a programme of professional development for mentors, trainees and early career teachers.
Note: programme content is subject to change.
How you'll learn
Our NPQLTD is designed so you can engage in live, facilitated sessions alongside modules you can complete at any time.
The first conference for the Ambition national NPQLTD spring cohort will take place on Monday 5 February 2024 and will be held in the West Midlands at the CBS Arena, Coventry. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.
Over 12 months, our NPQLTD includes:
- One full day conference.
- Six courses (each course lasts about six weeks and loosely aligns with a school half term).
- Each course includes six modules.
- Five two-hour clinics (facilitated sessions).
- One two-hour assessment clinic.
- Three communities (1hr15mins group sessions).
The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes 8 hours of in-person delivery (v via 1 full day conference and at least 1 in-person twilight session), a mix of real-time, interactive online sessions and self-guided modules you complete in your own time.
The programme includes facilitator-led sessions with your peer group that focus on decision making. The programme starts with a one-day live conference.
Note: programme content is subject to change.
Locations
Join a central cohort and gain a national network of peers or you can choose an NPQ cohort in your area with one of our regional partners with all the contextual benefits of your area.
With our regional partners, you’ll benefit from our expert curriculum design along with a more tailored experience linked to your local context. Either way, we work to give you the best possible experience.
Find a cohort that’s local to you in our list of partners here.
What our partners can do for you
Ambition Institute provides high-quality content and materials, built on our experience in schools and other learning environments, and our deep knowledge of evidence and practice.
Our partner in your region will put this knowledge into context and manage your experience on the programme, from facilitation to day-to-day support.
The timings and methods of activity, sizes of cohorts and the cost of the programme may vary across delivery partners.
Assessment
Our NPQ courses no longer include a large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.
The assessment window starts at the end of the 12-month programme and runs for three months. During this time, you’ll be given an eight-day window to complete the case study.
There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can sit the assessment two times, if they need to.
You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.
We will offer a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you.
Testimonials
Funding
Don’t miss out on a fully funded NPQ! Our February 2024 cohorts are currently our last intake to be fully funded by the DfE.
The Department for Education NPQ scholarship funding is available to all state schools and state funded organisations, including those that offer 16-19 age places in England.
DfE-funded scholarships are available for this NPQ for all those who meet the following criteria:
- Have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school.
- Work in a state-funded school or organisation, including those that offer 16-19 age places in England.
Register your interest here to find out if you're eligible.
Extended eligibility.
Organisations now eligible to access scholarships include:
- independent special schools.
- virtual schools (Local Authority run organisations that support the education of children in care).
- hospital schools not already included in other categories of eligible organisations.
- young offender institutions.
If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ in Leading Teacher Development costs £899 plus VAT.
Support fund for small schools
The DfE have introduced a new Targeted Support Fund for small schools, to enable them to support their teachers and leader to undertake the NPQs.
This is a grant payment of £200 per participant to settings with 1-600 pupils, for every teacher or leader they employ who participates on an NPQ.
This per teacher payment increases to £800 where the employing organisation is a primary school with 1-150 pupils.
Apply
Applications for our spring cohorts are open. Start your application here.
Apply by Tuesday 16 January for a February 2024 start.
Don’t miss out on a fully funded NPQ! Our February 2024 cohorts are currently our last intake to be fully funded by the DfE.
Alternatively, please fill out this quick enquiry form to register your interest and find out more about the programme.
To apply, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibility for leading other educators to develop. You might support all teachers in your school, trainees or those early in their career.
NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.
The first conference for the Ambition national NPQLTD programme will take place on Monday 5 February 2024 and will be held in the West Midlands at the CBS Arena, Coventry. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.