In this article, we break down the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and outline five ways they will make professional development work better for your school.
What are the NPQs?
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are a suite of programmes designed to support the professional development of teachers and school leaders. They equip educators with the expertise to lead sustainable improvement across their schools.
There are five NPQs which are specialist qualifications:
- NPQ for Leading Teaching (NPQLT).
- NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC).
- NPQ for Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
- NPQ for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD).
- NPQ for Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM).
There are five leadership NPQs:
- NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL).
- NPQ for Headship (NPQH).
- NPQ for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL).
- NPQ for Executive Leadership (NPQEL).
- NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (NPQSENCO).
The content in these NPQs has been adapted based on an evidence base approved by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). Find out more about the leadership NPQs in our explainer.
"Schools can have confidence that all their educators are developing their practice from the same evidence-based framework."
Five ways NPQs make professional development work better for your school:
1. They provide a golden thread throughout every stage of a teacher’s career
Schools and trusts can have confidence that all their educators, from classroom teachers to leaders of multiple schools, are building and developing their practice from the same evidence-based framework.
2. There are more options to keep getting better
Evidence tells us that high-quality professional development for teachers has a significant effect on pupils’ learning outcomes and provides the most cost-effective impact on attainment when compared with other interventions schools may consider.
Teachers can specialise in leading literacy, leading primary maths, leading teaching (bringing evidence-based teaching and learning into the classroom), behaviour management or teacher development in their school. The NPQs are designed to be complementary, giving educators multiple career pathways and options at every stage.
3 . NPQs focus squarely on what educators need to know and be able to do
Teachers and school leaders make decisions in complex and challenging circumstances. Leadership NPQ focus on the knowledge and skills that teachers and school leaders need to work to the best of their ability and tackle the persistent problems of their daily roles.
4 . The qualifications are informed by robust evidence
The NPQ frameworks have been developed by looking at all the available evidence that exists on effective professional development for teachers and leaders. Evidence-informed professional development helps effective school leadership to be demystified and adopted by more educators.
5 . High-quality professional development can help boost attainment
Commissioned by Wellcome, a study by Ambition Institute and the Education Policy Institute found that 35 hours of high-quality continuing professional development a year could improve pupil outcomes almost as effectively as having a teacher with 10 years’ experience in the classroom. The study also found that quality professional development improves teacher retention.
NPQs are designed to make it even easier for teachers and leaders to realise their potential.
NPQs and Ambition Institute
At Ambition Institute, we help schools tackling educational disadvantage to keep getting better, and help their teachers and school leaders to become more expert over time. That’s how we’ll make sure every child gets a great education and the best possible start in life.
- We train teachers and leaders at all levels to get better at the things that make the biggest difference: what you teach, how you teach it, and how you create the conditions for schools to thrive.
- We share what works. Everyone can benefit from evidence of how great teaching and leadership can improve schools and change lives, so we connect people to the latest research and the best practice out there in the system.
We champion every teacher and school leader’s potential to develop, as the driving force for sustainable school improvement.
