For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
Autumn cohort 2024
Register for a national professional qualification (NPQ)
About the programme
- Why join UCL?
- What will you learn?
- What are the benefits for you?
- What are the benefits for your school?
- Is this programme for me?
- How long will it take?
- When will it start and how much will it cost?
- Are scholarships available for this programme?
- Programme route map
- How to apply
- What do participants say?
Why join UCL?
The UCL Centre for Educational Leadership looks forward to working with you on their newly designed NPQ supporting you to deepen your knowledge of Leading Teaching within a collaborative and open learning environment.
Based on the latest research and evidence this new programme will enable you to take your new learning and develop your skills and put them into practice.
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?
- School culture - you will strengthen your ability and that of your colleagues to contribute to a school culture in which pupils can thrive and succeed.
- Teaching - you will learn how to support teachers at all levels in your school to develop their knowledge and classroom skills in leading teaching.
- School culture - you will strengthen your ability and that of your colleagues to contribute to a school culture in which pupils can thrive and succeed.
- How pupils learn - you will deepen your knowledge of the best ways to develop, adapt, embed and practice good models of learning across the whole school community.
- Subject and curriculum - you will learn how to support and improve high quality teaching, learning and assessment in your subject or phase.
- Implementation - 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 you?
Our participants have outlined many benefits to studying for a NPQLT. Overall, they outline how the programme has given them professional confidence, time and space to reflect on themselves and the kind of leader they want to become and increased knowledge in their chosen area of study.
You will be able to:
- Develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to implement new professional development initiatives successfully through a supported implementation project.
- Understand how to engage and motivate teachers and colleagues to support their teaching.
- Identify what high quality teaching looks like and recognise the role of teachers in ensuring meaningful success for all teachers.
- Experience opportunities to think and reflect with other teachers and leaders.
- Access new learning that is immediately applicable in your own school context.
- Access research and materials and have many opportunities to discuss a variety of professional development approaches and models with other teachers.
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 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 any aspect of leading a subject, year group or phase or aspire to leading teaching in your context.
How long will it take?
12 months followed by an 8-day open book summative case study task.
- Summary of programme and learning hours
Audit before start of the programme
Total hours (three terms): 1 hour.
One day induction conference at the beginning of year one
Total hours (three terms): 5 hours.
One day consolidation conference at the end of year one
Total hours (three terms): 4 hours.
Self-directed learning, learning journal and implementation project
Every term (three terms): 9 hours per term (minimum).
Total hours (three terms): 27 hours.
Online learning community: discussion session
Every term (three terms): 1 hour each term (minimum).
Total hours (three terms): 3 hours.
Peer learning group and live session
Every term (three terms): 3 hours in term one and term three, 6 hours in term two.
Total hours (three terms): 12 hours.
Line manager sessions
Every term (three terms): termly 1 hour meeting.
Total hours (three terms): 3 hours.
Total programme hours
Every term (three terms): 55 hours.
When will it start and how much will it cost?
The programme will start in October 2024. There will be an induction conference taking place in November 2024, which will be confirmed during the application process. Participants are required to attend the conference.
Scholarships may be available for this programme.
The programme fee is £885 (+VAT) for schools and participants in England required to pay for the programme. The same fee applies to independent schools in England.
British International Schools: please follow the links to your preferred International Delivery Partner for fee information.
Are scholarships available for this programme?
Funding to cover the course fees for this NPQ is available for teachers and school leaders in many state-funded settings in England. You can find out how to check the eligibility of your workplace for Autumn 2024.
Programme route map
- NPQ Programme Induction (October 2024)
Watch online programme information webinars
Induction Conference 2.5hrs – November 2024
- Module 1 (October 2024 – January 2025)
Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit 30 mins – October 2024 / November 2024Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Online Self-directed Study: 8hrs – October 2024 / January 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer Learning Group 1: 3hrs – November 2024 / December 2024Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Formative Assessment Tasks: 1hr – December 2024 / January 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
NPQ Mentor Check-in: 1hr – January 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit Review: 30 mins – January 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
End of Module Evaluation: 15 mins – January 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Programme Impact Report*: 15 mins – January 2025- Module 2* (January 2025 – April 2025)
Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit: 30 mins – January 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer Learning Group 2: 3hrs – January 2025 / February 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Online Self-directed Study 8hrs – February 2025 / April 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Formative Assessment Tasks: 1hr – March 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
NPQ Mentor Check-in: 1hr – February 2025 / March 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer Learning Group 3: 3hrs – March 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit: 30 mins – April 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
End of Module Evaluation: 15 mins – April 2025- Module 3* (April 2025 – July 2025)
Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit: 30 mins – April 2025 / May 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Online Self-directed Study: 8hrs – April 2025 / June 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer Learning Group 4: 3hrs – April 2025 / May 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Formative Assessment Tasks: 1hr – June 2025 / July 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
NPQ Mentor Check-in: 1hr – June 2025 / July 2025Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Consolidation Conference: 5 hrs – June 2025 / July 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Learning Audit: 30 mins – July 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
End of Module Evaluation: 15 mins – July 2025Self-directed Study UCL eXtend
Programme Impact Report*: 15 mins – July 2025- Final Assessment Preparation (August 2025 – September 2025)
Ensure 90% engagement– August 2025 / September 2025
Ensure Access to Assessment Platform – September 2025
*Please note, NPQ 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 (October 2025)
How to apply
Applications are now open for the Autumn 2024 cohort. You can register for a national professional qualification (NPQ) here.
What do participants say?
I very much enjoyed learning more about dialogic classrooms and how they can have a positive impact on pupils involvement and learning. Developing my own skill set is an ongoing process, however, through modelling, feedback and professional development, I believe I have made strides in helping create a more challenging but achievable learning pace for my pupils within my classroom, especially with regards to my BTEC Level 3 students.
Participant 2021
“Great to meet other practitioners and share our experiences, challenges and successes with a view to self-developing. The course has made me consider other perspectives on features of teaching practice which I just took for granted. Leadership accreditation will look brilliant on your C.V. and the expert course leaders are welcoming, engaging and entertaining."
Participant