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NPQLL: National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy

A teacher who has, or aspires to have responsibility for leading literacy across a year group, key stage, phase or school.

Spring cohort 2023

About the programme

Why join UCL?

The UCL Centre for Educational Leadership looks forward to working with you on their newly designed NPQLL supporting you to deepen your knowledge of Leading Literacy within a collaborative and open learning environment.

Based on the latest research evidence for effective literacy pedagogy, this new programme will enable you to develop your knowledge and skills and put them into practice in your school context.

Our programmes put you and your school at the heart of the programme through a professional learning group approach that helps you to share your thinking and understanding within a well-planned framework.

You will experience a blended approach of face to face, self-directed study materials and in school support to enable you to progress professionally and develop networks to enhance your career.

What will you learn?

  • Teaching - you will use what you learn  to support teachers at all levels in your school to develop their knowledge of literacy development and literacy learning and to improve their literacy teaching, including language, reading and writing.
  • School culture - you will learn how to enhance literacy teaching and to champion all aspects of literacy across a school, strengthening your ability and that of your colleagues to contribute to a school culture in which pupils can thrive and succeed. 
  • Professional development - you will deepen your knowledge of the best ways to provide effective professional development in literacy curriculum, pedagogy and assessment across the whole school community. You will engage in leading and developing a team of teachers focused on improving literacy attainment across your school.
  • Subject and curriculum – you will learn about the fundamental importance of literacy and recognise the impact it has on pupils’ future achievement and life chances. You will learn how to support and improve high quality teaching, learning and assessment in your subject or phase. You will acquire the essential knowledge, skills and concepts that underpin successful literacy teaching.
  • Implementation – focusing on literacy, you will learn 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.

What are the benefits for your school?

We know that our children and young people need teachers who are committed to their education and are confident learners themselves. Our NPQ programmes have been developed with teachers and leaders to:

  • Create professionally confident teachers and leaders.
  • Grow the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to use the evidence-base for the benefit of their children and young people.
  • Retain the best teachers who are excellent, collaborative role models for their schools and communities.
  • Inspire leaders who can harness the power of rich learning environments for their children and young people no matter the current circumstances.

Is this programme for me?

Yes, if you are responsible for leading literacy across a year group, phase or school, or aspire to do so in the future. The programme is suitable for teachers in Primary and Secondary phases.

How long will it take?

Twelve months followed by an eight day open book summative case study task.

When will it start and how much will it cost?

The programme will start in February 2023. There will be an induction conference taking place on two dates in February 2023 which will be confirmed during the application process. Participants are required to attend one of these conferences.

The programme is fully funded in English state schools (read more below). The cost is £885 for those in independent schools. British International Schools, contact us directly for prices.

Are scholarships available for this programme?

Full scholarship funding, with no cost to the participant, for the NPQ in Leading Literacy is expected to be available to all teachers who meet the following criteria:

  • Have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage, or phase.
  • Work in a state funded school and state funded organisations that offer 16-19 places in England.

Programme route map

NPQLL Route Map Feb 2023.
Route map (text version)
NPQ programme induction (January 2023 - February 2024)
Watch online programme information webinars  
Induction Conference 2.5hrs – February/March
Module 1 (February 2023 - May 2023)

Self-directed study - UCL eXtend
Learning audit: 30 mins – February 

Self-directed study - UCL eXtend
Online self-directed Study: 8hrs – February/May

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 1: 3hrs – March

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Formative Assessment Tasks: 1hr – April/May

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Line Manager / Mentor Check-in: 1hr – May

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – May

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
End of module completion form: 15 mins – May

Module 2 (May 2023 - October 2023)*

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Learning audit: 30 mins – May

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 2: 3hrs  – May/June

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Online self-directed study 8hrs – June/October

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Formative assessment tasks: 1hr – October

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Line manager / mentor check-in: 1hr – July

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 3: 3hrs – September/October

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – October

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
End of module completion form: 15 mins – October

Module 3 (October 2023 - January 2024)*

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Learning audit: 30 mins – October

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Online self-directed study: 8hrs – October/January

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 4: 3hrs – October/November

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Formative assessment tasks: 1hr – November/December

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Line manager / mentor check-in: 1hr – November/December

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – December

Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Consolidation conference: 5 hrs – November/December

Self-directed study UCL eXtend
End of module completion form: 15 mins – January

Final assessment preparation (January 2024 - February 2024)

Ensure 90% engagement– January/February

Ensure access to assessment platform – January/February

 *Please note, Line Managers / Mentors will be asked to complete a short Programme Impact Report at the end of module 2 and 3 to gauge how engagement with the programme is supporting School / Improvement. This is separate from the Line Manager / Mentor Check-in which is more participant focused.

Runs over 12 months: Implementation project: Work-based reflective learning, integrating research with practice and aligned to the EEF process model for school improvement (not assessed).

After 12 months: Final summative assessment (February 2024)

How to apply

To apply, please go to DfE NPQ Registration Service and choose UCL as your provider | Find out more about the application process.

What do participants say?

“I have really enjoyed taking part in the National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders (NPQML) to have professional discussions with colleagues across my local area about how best to use educational research in order to lead with impact. It has encouraged me to launch a project which has been a rewarding experience and had a positive impact on the students I teach. The course is well structured and thought out, I have been impressed with their flexibility during the pandemic. It has given me more focus and made me more reflective and strategic. I would really recommend this to staff who are looking to become a middle leader or who have recently taken on this responsibility.
Participant