At a glance
Course duration
18 Months
Awards:
NPQSL and
Level 5 Learning and Development Apprenticeship
Face-to-Face Events
4
Monthly Coaching
Sessions
Programme cost
£7,000 £0 with Apprenticeship Levy funding
What is the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL is a dual award that integrates the DfE’s NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) to the Level 5 Learning and Development Apprenticeship.
The NPQSL provides an evidence-informed framework built around “learn that” and “learn how to,” defining what effective senior leadership looks like across a whole-school context. It focuses on driving school-wide improvement through high-quality teaching, effective curriculum design and a positive, ambitious school culture.
The apprenticeship develops participants as strategic leaders of learning and improvement, able to diagnose organisational need, influence stakeholders, and design professional development that delivers measurable impact.
Together, the programme develops senior leaders not just as managers of specific areas, but as strategic leaders who can shape school-wide practice, culture and long-term performance.
Who should apply for the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL is for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.
Although the role varies, many senior leaders contribute to all aspects of the school through the leadership team as well as having a specific whole school responsibility of their own. This means the role is often both operational and strategic and relies on working with and through colleagues (in particular, through middle leaders) to ensure every pupil gets an excellent education.
What are the benefits of completing the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL provides a dual qualification in senior leader expertise and Level 5 Learning and Development. This combination bridges the gap between high-level educational theory and the strategic management skills required to lead staff, improve teaching standards, and drive sustainable change across a whole school.
Evidence-informed senior leadership
Develop a deep, research-based understanding of the pillars of senior leadership: culture, teaching, curriculum, and assessment. Learn to lead beyond a single classroom or department, ensuring consistent high standards across the whole school.
Lead school improvement
Gain the strategic oversight to influence the quality of education across all key stages and subjects. Develop the expertise to establish a positive, ambitious school culture where both staff and pupils are held to high expectations.
Lead the development of teaching excellence
Bridge how pupils learn with how adults learn. Use insights from both frameworks to design and deliver professional development that leads to consistent, evidence-informed classroom practice, ensuring that school-wide initiatives result in genuine classroom impact.
Strategic implementation
Learn how to navigate the complexities of school-wide change. Build the skills to diagnose institutional needs, plan robust implementation stages, and overcome the barriers to sustaining long-term improvement.
Evaluate impact and improve outcomes
Learn to use a range of data to monitor performance, refine strategies, and provide clear evidence of impact
Learn through practice with expert support
Apply your learning directly in your setting, supported by coaching, feedback and professional networks, ensuring your development translates into real change.
Cultivate a high-performing staff culture
Develop as a leader of leaders. By mastering adult learning and professional development, you can create a school environment where staff feel valued, supported, and challenged, directly aiding staff retention and the quality of teaching.
Why should I undertake the dual award?
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Cross-sector learning
Candidates access cutting-edge theory, resources and delivery from thought leaders and leading practitioners from all sectors of the economy.
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Awards 60 Master's credits
Can be used as a springboard onto an MA in Educational Leadership with the University of Chester.
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Practice-based programme
Candidates undertake school-based activities and are assessed on how they apply learning in their day-to-day role, helping develop and refine organisational management and leadership skills.
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A wider view of leadership
Candidates apply cross-sector management and leadership practice to their school context providing greater challenge and a broader perspective to organisational improvement.
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Access to extra coaching and content
Throughout the course you will have access to 1:1 coaching and teaching to help you succeed in the qualification.
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A personal experienced tutor to help you
An experienced tutor will help you throughout both the apprenticeship and the National Professional Qualification.
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Utilise levy funding
This professional development opportunity makes use of the apprenticeship levy and includes the DfE accredited NPQSL at no additional cost.
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Chartered Management Institute
Eligibility to become a Chartered Member and Institute of Leadership and Management Member.
This programme focuses on the holistic development of the appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviours, designed in partnership with cross-sector industries, to ensure bespoke coverage of all the relevant requirements of leading and managing at a senior level at your setting.
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of Face-to-Face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
Face-to-Face
NPQSL participants will attend 4 face-to-face events via the blended delivery model. Our nationwide delivery partnership network allows us to bring face-to-face training to a school near you and facilitated by local school leaders.
Online Learning
Participants access online learning and support via our virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas. Through Canvas, participants are able to engage with their learning communities of peers and access multimedia content. They can also access research and expert-led school practice aligned to the curriculum content for the qualification, receive high-quality feedback from experienced performance coaches and submit work for assessment.
How do I access the funding?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL can be funded through your school’s apprenticeship levy. Schools will be able to access the funding through their apprenticeship service (AS) account.
If your school needs help setting up your AS account, just let us know and we’ll guide you through it.
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL costs £7,000 from Apprenticeship Levy funds or co-investment for non-levy payers where the government pays 95% (the NPQSL standalone cost is £1,145).
The level of funding depends on each candidate’s learning needs, with a maximum allocation of £7,000 to cover the cost of the apprenticeship.
What is the Apprenticeship Levy?
The levy is paid by large employers with a wage bill of over £3 million. These employers pay 0.5% of their total annual pay bill into the levy. Most state-maintained schools and multi-academy trusts pay into the levy.
The levy is designed to create long term sustainable funding for apprenticeships and to give employers more control to provide their staff with a range of training opportunities.
Apprenticeship funded training is designed for both new and existing staff members.
Below is the programme structure for the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL :
Applicants must have full support from their school/organisation. A head teacher, member of the SLT, line manager or Chair of Governors (or similar authoritative role) must confirm their support and that all information submitted is true and correct. This is a Department for Education mandatory requirement.
To apply, applicants must have the following:
- Teacher Reference Number - see TRN Support Guide
- 2 years teaching experience
- Leadership aspiration/experience
If you are unsure if you meet the above requirements or have other relevant experience then please contact our team who will be able to support your application.
Our Leader Apprenticeship with NPQSL dual award includes the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL). For more information about NPQSL click here.
Best Practice Network is one of the leading providers of NPQSL nationally and the quality of our provision is rated ‘Exceptional’ by the DfE’s external quality assurance agent.
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