For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers, curriculum leads, mentors or trainees in their school.
Autumn cohort 2023
About the programme
- Why join UCL?
- What will you learn?
- What are the benefits to 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 Teacher Development 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?
- Teaching - you will learn how to develop teachers at all levels in your school, building strong systems that underpin their professional development.
- Designing professional development - you will strengthen your ability to design effective CPD that makes a genuine difference to pupil outcomes.
- Delivering effective professional development - you will deepen your knowledge of the best ways to develop models of professional development and dialogue that inspires teachers to become the experts that their pupils need.
- 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 an NPQLTD. 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 the key principles of how to design and deliver effective professional development programmes.
- Appreciate the value of sharing ideas, best practice and have thoughts and current practice challenged in a professionally safe space.
- Learn how to think and plan in a structured way and apply that learning in your own school context.
- Reflect on the importance of how important effective professional development is to student attainment.
- 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 developing teachers at any stage of their career.
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 2023. There will be an induction conference taking place on two dates in November 2023 which will be confirmed during the application process. Participants are required to attend one of these conferences.
The cost is £902 for those in independent schools. British International Schools, contact us directly for prices. The programme is fully funded in English state schools (read more below).
Are scholarships available for this programme?
Full scholarship funding, with no cost to the participant, for the NPQ in Leading Teacher Development is available to all teachers 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 and state funded organisations that offer 16-19 places in England.
- You are a lead mentor for a provider who is accredited to deliver initial teacher training from 2024. Check your ITT provider here.
Programme route map

- NPQ programme induction (October - November 2023)
Watch online programme information webinars.
Induction Conference 2.5hrs – November.
- Module 1 (October 2023 - January 2024)
Self-directed Study, UCL eXtend
Leadership audit: 30 mins – October/November.
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 1: 3hrs – November/December.
Self-directed Study, UCL eXtend
Formative Assessment Tasks: 1hr – December/January.
Facilitated Activity / 1 to 1 meeting Virtual or Live event
Line Manager / Mentor Check-in: 1hr – January.
Self-directed Study, UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – January.
Self-directed Study, UCL eXtend
End of module completion form: 15 mins – January.
- Module 2 (January 202 - April 2024)*
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Leadership audit: 30 mins – January.
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 – April/June.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Formative assessment tasks: 1hr – March.
Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Line manager / mentor check-in: 1hr – February/March.
Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 3: 3hrs – March.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – June/July.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
End of module completion form: 15 mins – July.
- Module 3 (April - July 2024)*
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Leadership audit: 30 mins – April/May.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Online self-directed study: 8hrs – April/June.
Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Peer learning group 4: 3hrs – April/May.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Formative assessment tasks: 1hr – June/July.
Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Line manager / mentor check-in: 1hr – June/July.
Self-directed study UCL eXtend
Module engagement form: 15 mins – July.
Facilitated activity / 1 to 1 meeting / virtual or live event
Consolidation conference: 5 hrs – June/July.
- Final assessment preparation (August – September 2024)
Ensure 90% engagement– August/September.
Ensure Access to Assessment Platform - September.
*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 (October 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 found the reading in this module particularly interesting and it made me consider and question how we deliver our CPD, particularly INSET days. It was very interesting to read how other schools have explored and implemented their observation and appraisal changes and is something that I will take back to school with me. I also found exploring the models interesting as they provided a clearer platform for delivering my own CPD. It prompted me to re-familiarise myself with the ECT program currently being delivered in my setting and how we could be better supporting our ECTs. "
Participant Autumn 2022
“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