National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
for International Schools
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are a voluntary suite of qualifications, designed to support the professional development of teachers and leaders and accredited by England's Department for Education (DfE).
Flexibly Delivered Around Your Timetable
Award 30-60 Master's Credits
Remote Online Delivery to International Schools
Apply Now
What are National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)?
The prestigious National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), already widely recognised and trusted by the international schools sector, are accredited by England's Department for Education.They are designed to help you hone and develop the skills you already have, helping you become a more effective school leader and teacher in your school context.
"I speak very highly about the programme because of its practicality and the fact that I’m working with principals around the world. For me it’s really refreshing to know that someone else is in a similar position to me and that we can easily share ideas"
Specialist NPQs
.jpg)
.jpg)
Leadership NPQs
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Why Outstanding Leaders Partnership?
Accredited by the UK Department for Education, Outstanding Leaders Partnership, supported by Best Practice Network, is the leading provider of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) globally. Our NPQ provision has expanded rapidly across the international schools community with leaders and their schools choosing professional qualification as a driver for improvement and a mark of quality for their workforce.
We were recently rated ‘Exceptional’ by the DfE’s quality assurance agent and voted ‘Company of the Year’ at the BETT Awards. We are the market leader, and to date have supported over 1500 candidates from 75+ countries to access and complete an NPQ.
Reformed National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
The reformed National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) offer teachers and leaders clearer development opportunities and career progression. These qualifications build on key areas of the Early Career Framework (ECF), allowing for further specialisation and development of expertise and help prepare teachers and leaders for the next step in their careers.
The reformed qualifications aim to:
- provide teachers and leaders with the essential knowledge (learn that) and skills (learn how to) for the effective development and delivery of evidence-based school improvement strategies
- 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
“The high-quality, research-based course material, coupled with the ongoing leadership discourse, through forums and online meetings, have given me opportunities to reflect on and adapt my current leadership practices. The qualification further strengthened my leadership capacity and enabled me to build on my professional network within the international teaching community of Hong Kong."
Specialist NPQs
National Professional Qualification: Leading Teaching
(NPQLT)
-
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
12 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face days
3
-
# online Learning hours
34
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
PERFORMANCE Coaching
5 hours
-
Total learning hours
74
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
National Professional Qualification: Leading Behaviour & Culture
(NPQLBC)
-
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school.
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
12 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face days
3
-
# online Learning hours
34
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
PERFORMANCE Coaching
5 hours
-
Total learning hours
74
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
National Professional Qualification: Leading Teacher Development
(NPQLTD)
-
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school.
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
12 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face days
3
-
# online Learning hours
34
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
PERFORMANCE Coaching
5 hours
-
total learning hours
74
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
“The online learning platform has worked well and our team have been very happy with the standard of support they’ve received from facilitators and their mentors. I would recommend the programmes to fellow leaders of British international schools. I want my team to be able to take responsibility for their areas and run with them, and these programmes will help them to do that.”
Leadership NPQs
National Professional Qualification:
Senior Leadership
(NPQSL)
-
For those who are, or aspire to be, senior leaders leading across a school
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
18 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face HoURS
24
-
# online LEARNING hours
38
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
performance Coaching
6 hours
-
Total learning hours
90
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
National Professional Qualification:
Headship
(NPQH)
-
For those who are, or aspire to be, headteachers leading across a whole school
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
18 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face HOURS
30
-
# online LEARNING hours
38
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
performance Coaching
6 hours
-
total learning hours
104
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
National Professional Qualification:
Executive Leadership
(NPQEL)
-
For those who are, or aspire to be, executive leaders with responsibility across more than one school
-
Intakes
Autumn & Spring
-
Duration
18 months
-
Delivery Model
Face-to-face or online-only
-
DfE Accredited
-
# face-to-face HOURS
36
-
# online LEARNING hours
38
-
Personal Online Tutor
-
performance Coaching
6 hours
-
total learning hours
116
-
Assessment
Case study scenario
"I got the headship! The course was absolutely instrumental in my success at interview – I felt so confident because of my reading and the work we’ve done on the face-to-face days and projects. Thank you for your support and encouragement – it really helped.”"
Why Choose OLP?
.png){kind=small}
Accredited by the UK Department for Education (DfE), Outstanding Leaders Partnership, supported by Best Practice Network, is the leading provider of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) globally. Our NPQ provision has expanded rapidly across the international schools community with leaders and their schools choosing professional qualification as a driver for improvement and a mark of quality for their workforce.
The Outstanding Leaders Partnership is an international, school-led partnership recently rated as ‘exceptional’ by the DfE Quality Assurance Agent.
The quality review was based on the DfE National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Quality Framework. The reviewers examined leadership and governance, face-to-face delivery, online courses, candidate, facilitator and tutor support, assessment, organisation, quality control, marketing and recruitment, as well as the DfE metrics and impact. The reviewers identified exceptional performance in most areas of the Quality Framework.
Read the full summary of our DfE Quality Review results here.
"I got the headship! The course was absolutely instrumental in my success at interview – I felt so confident because of my reading and the work we’ve done on the face-to-face days and projects. Thank you for your support and encouragement – it really helped.”"
.png)
Watch the video below to learn more about Outstanding Leaders Partnership and hear how our qualifications have impacted the careers of teachers and the attainment of pupils.