UK Department for Education (DFE) Accredited (NPQs)

NPQ for Leading Teacher Dev

Our National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) for international schools, guides teachers to lead professional development effectively, enabling them to inspire growth among their colleagues.

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Quick Facts

Awarding Body

UK Department for Education

Study Mode

Online / Blended

Course Format

Online Study Units

Certification

England's DFE Accredited

Registration

Up to 4 weeks in advance of course

Certificate Timeline

Issued after completion within 4 weeks

Who should apply for NPQLTD?

Teachers

Heads of Department

Heads of Year

Subject Leaders

Professional Development Leads

Mentors and Coaches

CPD Coordinators

Course Duration

12 months

Masters Credits

Events

Virtual Face-to-Face

Online learning

34 hours

Coaching

5 hour

Total Learning Hours

74 Hours

Registration Process

Submit Application

Submit your application through ICD's online form. Shortlisted candidates receive an offer letter.

Payment & Enrolment

Pay the course fee and share the payment receipt to confirm enrolment.

Access Portal

Once enrolled, you'll receive your login details by email to begin coursework on ICD's portal.

Each of the four annual intakes (Jan, April, July, October) runs for 3 months.

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What are the benefits of completing the NPQ Leading Teaching Development (NPQLTD)?

Benefits for schools

Improved Teaching Quality

Teachers trained through this NPQ programme can lead high-quality professional development, raising the overall standard of teaching in the school

The programme equips staff with the leadership skills needed to guide and inspire others, empowering them to take on key roles within the school. This builds a pipeline of future leaders, ensuring that the school has a strong, sustainable leadership team.

Enhanced Collaboration

NPQLTD encourages staff to share best practices and work collaboratively to support professional growth. This creates a more cohesive working environment, where staff are more likely to work together to solve problems and innovate.

Staff who complete the course are able to design professional development programmes that align with the school’s specific goals and challenges.

Retention of Talent

Investing in staff development shows a strong commitment to their professional growth, which fosters loyalty and job satisfaction. This can reduce turnover and help retain talented educators who might otherwise seek career progression opportunities elsewhere.

As staff become more skilled in professional development and leadership, the quality of teaching and learning improves, which directly benefits students. Better teaching leads to higher engagement, improved learning outcomes, and overall school performance.

Benefits for learners

Locally Relevant and Up-to-Date Content

The programme content is tailored to your local context, ensuring it’s highly relevant to your specific challenges. It is regularly updated to reflect the latest national developments, policies, and legislation in education.
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Benefit from guaranteed support throughout the programme to help you confidently pass your final assessment. Expert guidance and tailored feedback ensure you are well-prepared to meet all requirements.

Flexible Learning Platform

Access a purpose-built virtual learning environment designed for use on mobiles and tablets. This allows you to engage with the course materials anytime, anywhere, making it easier to fit learning around your schedule.

This portal is packed full of educational resources which will aid your learning while on programme and help develop your wider leadership skills.

Expert Facilitation

Gain insights and guidance from experienced school leaders currently working in outstanding schools. Their real-world expertise ensures practical, relevant advice for immediate application in your own context.

Your mentor will receive regular updates on your progress. This ensures they are informed and can provide targeted support as you advance through the programme.

What will you learn on the NPQ for Leading Teaching Development (NPQLTD) programme?

The NPQLTD equips participants with essential knowledge, skills, and concepts to lead effective teacher development in international schools. Through this qualification, you’ll gain specialised expertise in designing impactful professional development programmes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and mentoring colleagues to enhance their practice.

How is the Leading Teacher Development programme delivered?

The NPQLTD is a 12-month course comprising three Face-to-Face events, 34 hours of online learning, and independent study.

Assessments will be conducted throughout the course, ending in an Impact Review and a Case Study Assessment.

FAQs

What are the requirements?

Applicants must have full support from a sponsor within their school/organisation. This can be a head teacher, member of the SLT, line manager or Chair of Governors (or similar authoritative role) who must confirm their support for your application and that all information submitted is true and correct. There is no financial obligation for this role and it is a Department for Education mandatory requirement.

To apply for NPQLTD, applicants must have the following:

2 years teaching experience
Leadership aspiration/experience
Must be proficient in English
A Teacher Reference Number (TRN) will also be required to obtain a DfE accredited certificate upon successful completion of the programme. Applicants will be supported to obtain their TRN during the registration process if they do not already have one.

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.

What does it cost?

NPQLTD International costs £1375 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.

Leadership Mentor

The Leadership Mentor is a participant’s main point of contact for the duration of the NPQLTD. Our leadership mentors are experienced teachers and leaders who are experts in our programme curriculum. They understand first-hand the challenges teachers experience in work life. Their role is to support a participant's progress and development through the programme. They support you by:

Providing advice and feedback throughout the programme
Marking and responding to all of your practice task activities completed for each online course
Providing you with feedback on each of the Formative Assessment Tasks following their completion

Our Leadership Mentors apply flexibility and are accountable to ensure success on your programme. With the above responsibilities, their main role and purpose is to help you manage your workload and ensure work life balance as much as possible whilst studying with us.

At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school.‍

In-school Performance Coach?

The in-school performance coach, nominated by the participant’s school, will offer support, guidance and challenge to a participant through six planned coaching sessions. They will provide feedback following their completion of formative assessment tasks and monitor and support participant progress through the programme.

At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school. See the In-School Performance Coach (ISPC) Handbook for more information.

NPQLTD Framework

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 NPQLTD Framework below. If your computer or device does not support the Adobe plugin you can download the framework pdf here.

Program Fee

LEADERSHIP Qualifications

Empowering school leaders and aspiring heads.

Specialist NPQs Certificates

£1,705.00

Leading Teaching, Behaviour & Culture, or Teacher Development

Need-based and merit-based scholarships available at ICD Centers.

Enquire Now

Take the next step in your teaching journey by registering your interest with ICD. Submit your enquiry online to receive guidance on modules, preparation options, registration, and payment process.