At a glance
Course duration
18 months
Virtual Face-to-Face Events
6
Online learning
38 hours
Coaching
6 hours
Total Learning Hours
116 hours
National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Executive Leadership
The National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) is accredited by the UK Department for Education (DfE). The qualification is delivered by Best Practice Network, a provider of UK accredited qualifications for education professionals worldwide.
NPQEL is suitable for colleagues aspiring to, or already in, leadership roles across more than one school. For example, Principals, Heads of Primary / Secondary, Executive Headteachers, Directors of Education, Finance and HR Directors, COOs.
What are the benefits?
The fully blended learning approach with HEI backed content (meaning that participants can put their NPQEL work towards postgraduate qualifications with a university), combined with executive coaching and enrichment activity from within and outside the education sector, make this an exciting and valuable opportunity for executive leaders.
Benefits for participants
- National and international networking
- Increased awareness and understanding of self and of the behaviours needed to lead across multiple organisations
- Time to reflect on leadership practice and ability to check learning and development needs
- Increased capability and capacity to take on a multi-school organisation - having the skills, knowledge and understanding to do the job more effectively
Benefits for Schools
- Increased national partnership opportunities and insight into the systems, sectors and sources of effective leadership practice
- Increased commitment to building relationships with a range of stakeholders within the organisation and the wider community
- A professionally aware and informed leader who can make evidence-based strategic decisions and approach new challenges in an effective and efficient manner
- The ability to review and evaluate practice in order to bring about change and get the best for young people and staff within the organisation
Why did you sign up for the NPQEL?
What has been a highlight of the NPQEL programme for you?
Has the programme made a difference to you personally as a leader in terms of behaviour?
Who is it for?
NPQEL is suitable for colleagues aspiring to, or already in, leadership roles across more than one school.
How is NPQEL delivered?
NPQEL makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of virtual Face-to-Face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
NPQEL candidates can choose to complete the programme via our online delivery model. This delivery model replaces the Face-to-Face events with facilitated webinars as well as extra tutor support and study packs.
Face-to-Face
NPQEL participants will attend 6 Face-to-Face events (including 1 x 2 day event) if they choose to complete the programme via the blended delivery model. These events give participants the opportunity to learn from exceptional facilitators while fostering valuable connections with peers in the teaching community.
Our international delivery network allows us to bring in-person events to select countries, facilitated by local school leaders (please contact us for international locations).
Online Learning
Candidates access online learning and support via our virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas. Through Canvas, candidates are able to engage with their peers, access multimedia content and submit work for assessment.
Delivery Outline
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 for NPQEL, applicants must have the following:
- Teacher Reference Number (TRN) - see TRN Support Guide
- Leadership aspiration/experience
- 3 years experience as a headteacher
- Must be proficient in English
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.
NPQEL International costs £5950 plus VAT where applicable. VAT is chargeable on courses funded by private individuals.
Please refer to our NPQ programme funding guidance document for more information.
The leadership performance coach is a participant’s main point of contact for the duration of the NPQEL. Their role is to support a participant’s progress and development through the programme. They will respond to practice task activities completed for each online course and provide challenge and feedback on each of the Formative Assessment Tasks.
Each participant will receive small group and individual coaching sessions from their leadership performance coach to develop their thinking and support their progress.
The NPQ frameworks are based on a robust method of design and development, building on the evidence base and expert guidance already established in the ECF and the ITT Core Content Framework. The NPQ frameworks reflect the Teachers’ Standards and Headteachers' Standards to ensure coherency with the requirements already used by the teaching profession.
Please see the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership Framework below. If your computer or device does not support the Adobe plugin you can download the framework pdf here.
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