About the NPQS

WHAT ARE NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (NPQS)?

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are trusted, transferable qualifications accredited by the Department for Education. They are designed to help you hone and develop the skills you already have, helping you become a more effective leader inside and outside the classroom. 

HOW ARE NPQS BEING REFORMED?

From September 2021, reformed National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) will offer teachers and leaders clearer development opportunities and career progression. These qualifications will build on key areas of the Early Career Framework (ECF), allowing for further specialisation and development of expertise and help prepare teachers and leaders the next step in their careers. 

The reformed qualifications aim to:

• help teachers hone and develop the skills they already have, helping them to become more effective leaders inside and outside the classroom and improving overall teaching quality
• retain high-calibre teachers by offering clearer development opportunities and career progression

To best address the broad range of responsibilities of current and aspiring middle leaders the Middle Leadership NPQ has been replaced with three new specialist NPQs. These specialist areas cover:

• supporting the training and development of others, including early career teachers
• developing teachers who are subject leads or responsible for improving teaching practice in a subject or phase
• developing teachers who have responsibilities for leading behaviour and culture

These new and updated NPQs will ensure these qualifications continue to offer the best possible support to teachers and leaders wanting to expand their knowledge and skills, and can help them in taking the next step in their careers. 

WHY TAKE AN NPQ?

NPQs can have a measurable impact on schools and pupils. 

NPQs are suitable for school leaders at each stage of their career, starting with Middle Leadership and progressing to Senior Leadership, Headship and Executive Leadership. Benefits for schools include: 

• Increased workforce capacity, capability and confidence
• Staff retention and succession
• Research-based improvement activity addressing priority needs

CHESHIRE LTA ARE DELIGHTED TO BE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHESHIRE TEACHING SCHOOL HUB AND BEST PRACTICE TO DELIVER THIS OUTSTANDING TRAINING TO SCHOOL LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS OF THEIR CAREER PATH.  TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE LOCALLY, WITH DATES AND VENUES TO BE CONFIRMED.