Empowering you to excel as a teacher and a school leader 

The National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are designed to support the professional development of school colleagues and leaders at all levels and stages of their careers. They are perfect if you are looking to improve your skills and knowledge in your current role, take the next step in your career, move into a leadership role or develop your skills and knowledge in key areas of education pedagogy.

* This course is also available to anyone employed:

• In a maintained nursery school in England.
• In a preschool class that’s part of a school in England.
• In a nursery that is registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register.
• As a childminder registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register.

Apprenticeships

We are excited to be offering a number of Apprenticeships in partnership with Best Practice Network.

• The Coaching in Education Apprenticeship Level 5 - The Coaching in Education Level 5 is designed for professionals across the education sector who are involved in supporting and developing others and is fully funded by your apprenticeship levy.
• Speech and Language Support Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 5 - This programme has been developed for colleagues working directly with pupils who need support with communication, language development and interaction. This includes teaching assistants, SEND staff, inclusion teams and wider support roles.

• Pastoral Support Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 4 - Designed to help schools strengthen early intervention, attendance, behaviour, wellbeing and inclusion. Together, these two programmes offer an exciting opportunity to build even stronger support around pupils and families across your schools.

What are the benefits of studying an NPQ? 

• Designed for immediate impact, NPQs improve your teaching and leadership.
• Unlocks your confidence and skills to implement initiatives that will generate lasting positive change in your setting.
• They are flexible and focus on accessible bite-sized learning. 
• Nationally recognised qualifications that support your professional development.
• They champion quality teaching and reflection to elevate outcomes for your pupils.
• With a culture of continuous improvement, your investment in professional  development will be pivotal in supporting, nurturing and retaining teaching talent.
• You will develop evidence-based strategies, enabling you to make informed decisions and lead with confidence.

See the DfE website for more information.

Our providers

Our NPQ offer

Committed to quality and timely delivery, we ensure that national and international research and evidence are tailored to meet our local needs, priorities, and aspirations. We offer the complete range of NPQs to colleagues at every stage of their career.

When you join our NPQ programmes, you become part of a dedicated community offering a dynamic learning experience within a collaborative professional network committed to improving outcomes for young people in our region.

There are two suites of NPQs available:

• Specialist NPQs - Designed for teachers, leaders, and support staff looking to deepen their expertise in a specific area.
• Leadership NPQ - Tailored for current and aspiring senior leaders seeking to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge.

How long do courses take?

Courses last between 12 and 18 months, depending on your chosen NPQ.

How to apply?

Visit our how to apply page for further details.