NPQs applications are now open for 2025.
Details of our National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
Our National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH) is designed for ambitious school leaders who want to be, or already are, a headteacher.
Running a school is the closest educators can get to seeing their vision for a great education brought to life. Great headteachers bring themselves and their vision to their particular context, and create the conditions for teachers to give pupils a potentially life-changing education.
Our NPQH is designed by the headteachers of some of the country’s top-performing schools, and through the course of the programme you will meet many of them, learning from them as they facilitate your sessions, hearing their inspirational stories through masterclasses, and visiting their schools through virtual visits. You will gain the crucial knowledge needed to succeed in this complex and challenging role, as well as the opportunity to apply your knowledge to your context.
NPQ in Headship | NPQH | National Institute of Teaching – The National Institute of Teaching
Our National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) is designed for experienced teachers and leaders who are seeking to develop their expertise in leading special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in their school, or to become a SENCO.
In too many settings, pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) do not progress in line with their peers without SEND. The work of a great SENCO can support these pupils who most require support to flourish socially and academically. SENCOs perform a critical role in every school in the UK, both in the bespoke support for pupils with SEND and in their promotion of teaching, curriculum and behaviour approaches that work for all pupils, including those with SEND.
The NPQ for SENCOs will ensure you are ready to take on this vital, statutory role in any school setting. You will understand and be able to undertake all statutory aspects of the role. In addition, you will lead practices across the whole school that benefit all pupils, including those with SEND, such as embedding instructional practices that lead to the greatest pupil progress. Throughout the qualification, you will be led by expert, experienced SENCOs. By working to improve the practice of all school colleagues, you will have a dramatic impact on the potential outcomes and opportunities open to young people with SEND needs.
NPQ For SENCOs | Train With The National Institute Of Teaching – The National Institute of Teaching
Our National Professional Qualification in Leading Teachers (NPQLT) is designed for teachers and leaders who are seeking to develop their expertise in leading the teaching of others, through leading a subject, year group or phase.
The role of a middle leader is pivotal in any school, and one of the most important aspects of your work is how you develop the individuals who stand in front of your young people every day. Through developing your ability to guide and improve the practice of those you work with, you will help the children in your school achieve their potential.
The NPQLT will develop your knowledge of what makes great teaching. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge through deliberate practice with peers and expert facilitators, helping you to secure the leadership behaviours that will help you to lead others well in teaching. By working to secure the excellent practice of your colleagues, you will impact the outcomes and experiences of a broader range of pupils in your setting.
NPQ in Leading Teaching | NPQLT – The National Institute of Teaching
The National Professional Qualification for Leading Primary Maths will equip you with the knowledge, skills, experience and network to know how to lead maths in a primary phase or whole school. This course builds on the knowledge you already have as an experienced teacher or middle leader, in addition to your prior learning about maths mastery, and focuses on what you need to know and be able to do to effectively lead the maths practice of others.
Getting off to a strong start in numeracy is key to children achieving their potential both in later education and in the world of work.
The maths NPQ is designed to help you build on the knowledge you already have as an experienced maths teacher and will enable you to lead your colleagues to deliver this subject effectively in your primary school setting.
You will enhance your knowledge of how to develop and embed a coherent maths curriculum, and get to grips with the nuts and bolts of what makes great teaching and leadership using deliberate practice with peers as well as guidance from expert facilitators to consolidate this learning.
NPQ in Leading Primary Maths | Maths NPQ – The National Institute of Teaching
Our National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) is designed for teachers and leaders who hold, or aspire to hold, whole-school leadership responsibilities.
Senior leaders support teachers to give pupils the best possible experience in schools. Through their strategic and operational leadership, they create the conditions for colleagues and pupils to flourish.
Through our NPQSL, you will develop your domain knowledge of all aspects of schools and school leadership. Additionally, you will spend time applying that knowledge to your context as well as common leadership challenges so you will be better prepared to meet the demands of your future career pathway and to create the conditions for pupils to thrive.
NPQ in Senior Leadership | NPQSL – The National Institute of Teaching
There is no time more critical in a child’s life than their early years. As the leader of an early years provision, you can shape children's experience, contribute to developing their personal wellbeing and sense of security and prime them to be ready to learn in a school environment.
Through the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL), you will develop your knowledge of how children learn and develop, hear from colleagues who have proven track records of working with very young children and babies as well as visiting exemplary settings to learn more about how leaders have created the environment and learning space for children to thrive. You will benefit from actionable takeaways you can use immediately in your setting as well as prepare for your future career development.
NPQ in Early Years Leadership | NPQEYL – The National Institute of Teaching
Our National Professional Qualification in Leading Behaviour and Culture(NPQLBC) is designed for teachers and leaders who have, or who aspire to have, responsibility for the behaviour and culture of a year group, phase, or whole school.
Leaders of behaviour drive the culture of their schools. Through their work, they support pupils in their character development, helping them to develop the attitudes and habits that will lead to their success in later life, as well as ensuring the safeguarding of pupils’ wellbeing and the creation of a school environment that supports learning.
The NPQLBC will ensure you develop your knowledge of all aspects of school behaviour and culture as well as the ability to apply this practically in your setting. Through this course, you will develop your ability to lead pupils and colleagues to ensure your school’s culture is warm, positive, and leads to exceptional pupil learning.
NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture | NPQLBC – The National Institute of Teaching
The National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy (NPQLL) is designed for teachers and leaders or aspiring leaders of literacy.
Leaders and aspiring leaders of literacy know that children’s ability in this broad and fascinating area will unlock the school curriculum for them, along with enhancing their subsequent ability to achieve life-altering outcomes and lead an enriched life.
The NPQLL will enable you to develop your knowledge of the best available research around literacy, as well as support you in applying this knowledge to your context. With your enhanced knowledge and skill, you will be able to lead colleagues in this critical area so they can have the greatest possible impact on the literacy of the children in their care.
NPQ in Leading Literacy | NPQLL – The National Institute of Teaching
Our National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) is designed for aspiring or current leaders of professional development, including the training and mentoring of trainees or early career teachers.
Professional development is the most effective aspect of school leadership in our control to impact the lives and outcomes of young people. Those who lead teacher professional development have the potential to have the maximum impact on the children in their setting.
Through the NPQLTD, you will develop your knowledge of evidence-informed practices and how to help colleagues learn and embed these, with an emphasis on applying this knowledge to your school setting so that you are able to tailor your work to your own context. Through improving your development of others, you will enable the young people in your school to reach and exceed their potential.
NPQ in Leading Teacher Development | NPQLTD – The National Institute of Teaching
NPQ applications are now open for 2025 start.
Before starting your NPQ programme, you will need to register for a national professional qualification.
You will be asked to confirm your choice of NPQ programme and select The Rivers Teaching Alliance as the provider.
The Rivers C of E Academy Trust
School Lane, Cutnall Green
Droitwich
WR9 0PH