National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
The Application Window for Autumn 2015 is now open.
Leading beyond a team
The National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) is a national qualification that
provides recognition of your leadership development and professional achievement as a senior
leader. Coast2Coast is accredited by Leadership East to run this qualification.
Who is NPQSL for?
NPQSL is aimed at experienced team leaders with wider responsibilities traditionally associated with
senior leadership roles. It is suitable for:
•Deputy or assistant heads
•Experienced senior leaders who wish to further their knowledge and skills
•Experienced middle leaders who are ambitious for and seeking promotion to a senior leadership
role
•Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs)
•Senior leaders in a federation with responsibility areas across several schools
•Someone who has responsibility for supporting other schools
•Senior leaders working in schools and academies who are not qualified teachers (for example
bursars, HR officers)
What is the NPQSL programme?
The qualification is part of the National College’s leadership curriculum, which offers more flexible
development opportunities to support leaders at every stage of their career. The curriculum has five
levels, with each level offering a choice of modules that can be combined to pursue a nationally
recognised qualification or studied alone. Levels one to three are currently available.
NPQSL sits at level two of the leadership curriculum. It is designed to support participants in
becoming highly effective senior leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge to contribute to
the strategic development of the school or organisation as part of the senior leadership team.
To achieve the qualification, participants will need to complete two Essential modules ("Succeeding
in senior leadership" and "Closing the gap") and two Elective modules chosen from a wide range of
options.
Included in the cost of the programme will be:
• Online materials for the two essential modules and two elective module
• Two overnight conferences providing face to face training and networking opportunities
• One full day face to face training
• Three twilight sessions
• A 360 degree diagnostic development tool
• Online discussions and support
• One to One Coaching
• Assessment
Each module can be completed by participants in approximately 40 hours, although you can spend
longer using the online materials for your own learning if you so wish.
What modules are available as part of the NPQSL qualification?
The modules provide access to a wide set of high quality leadership resources to challenge and
support participants at senior leadership level. All modules reflect the recent and significant changes
in schools and national policy.
Essential Modules
Closing the Gap
Succeeding in Senior Leadership
Improving the quality of teaching
Research and development in teaching
Effective whole school management
Elective Modules
School self-evaluation
Leading professional development
Leading change for improvement
Leading in a diverse system
Effective partnership working
The modules for the Senior Leadership pathway can also be grouped within the three key strands of
the leadership curriculum:
Educational Excellence
Operational Management
Strategic Leadership
How is the programme assessed?
Although individual modules are not assessed, there will be the requirement to complete one
extended school improvement task to encompass school improvement priorities and closing the gap
priorities. This extended school improvement task will need to draw on learning from all the
modules studied.
The work will be undertaken over at least two terms to enable you to show evidence of the impact
of your leadership.
How long does it take?
The qualification can take between 12 and 18 months to complete with each module requiring
between 40 and 50 hours of learning.
When will the programme be held?
Applications are now open for the Autumn 2015 intake. Below are the provisional dates (please note
these may be subject to change prior to the start of the programme):
Delivery
Overnight
Conference
Content
Introductory Session
360 Diagnostic Reflection
Module One: Part One
Module One: Part Two
Face to Face Day
Module Two: Part One
Assessment Information
Twilight Session
Overnight
Conference
Module Two: Part Two
Elective Modules
Twilight Session
Assessment Workshop
Optional
Assessment Workshop -
Twilight Support
participants to book one-to-one
Session
slots with facilitators
Celebratory
Awards Evening
Date
Friday 6th November 2015, 4.30pm Saturday 7th November 2015, 12pm
Wednesday 2nd December 2015, 9am - 4.30pm
Sponsors must join participants from 3.30pm
Thursday 14th January 2016, 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Friday 11th March 2016, 4.30pm Saturday 12th March 2016, 12pm
Tuesday 19th April 2016, 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Tuesday 14th June 2016, 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Celebration and Certificates
TBC
Coaching
As part of the NPQML programme you will be allocated a coach for the duration through to final
assessment. The coach will be an experienced leader and will be someone from within Coast2Coast
teaching school alliance. The process is specifically structured to ensure you are keeping on track
with the programme and to provide you with the opportunity to seek support.
You will be expected to meet your coach at specified intervals for one to one sessions. These
sessions will involve the coach asking you questions about your progress through the programme,
for example:
Have you gone online to introduce yourself and join the communities?
What progress are you making with your individual online learning?
How is your leadership different as a result of your learning so far?
The pattern of contact will be as follows:
Coaching Session 1: Will take place following the introductory conference.
Coaching Session 2: Will take place following the extended day.
Coaching Session 3: Will take place following the second conference.
Coaching Session 4: Will take place following the second twilight.
How much does the NPQSL cost?
The NPQSL qualification is available with Coast2Coast at a cost of £1,345, below the National College
recommended retail price of £1,400 and inclusive of coaching.
Is funding available?
To help with the costs of the programme, the National College is offering a range of scholarships.
Scholarships for NPQSL are allocated on a “first come first served basis” and participants will be able
to indicate that they require a scholarship when they register for the programme. Leadership East
are allocated a number of scholarships each year.
Please note that, while Leadership East’s price for this programme is below the National College’s
RRP, the value of the national scholarship has decreased. This means that for those eligible for the
full scholarship there could be a very small shortfall of no more than £15.
There are three types of scholarships available to participants
from Maintained schools.
Maintained schools include community schools and colleges, foundation schools and colleges,
voluntary-aided schools and colleges, voluntary-controlled schools and colleges and local authority
nursery schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, secure units, academies, free
schools and advisers/consultants employed by local authorities or diocesan authorities
1. Full Scholarship
Full scholarship for schools with less than 100 pupils and secondary schools below 500 pupils £1330*
*Please note that the programme fee is £1345. Participants will be required to pay a £15 shortfall
due to the scholarship amount reducing to below the programme fee.
2. Half Scholarship
Half scholarship for schools with between 101 and 250 pupils - £630
3. Part scholarship
Part Scholarship for schools over 250 pupils - £118
Non-maintained/independent school or not
employed in a school
No scholarships available. Participants are required to pay course fees and additional assessment
fees of £440 to the assessment body.
Targeted Scholarships
There are no targeted scholarships currently available.
Exemptions
Some participants applying to join the NPQSL programme may have already completed the National
College Leadership Pathways programme. If a participant has successfully completed Leadership
Pathways or Tomorrow's Heads (for 1 or 2 years), he or she will be entitled to an exemption of one
Elective module at Level 2. School leaders who have successfully completed a post-graduate
certificate, diploma or higher degree in educational leadership can request exemption from one
elective module. In practice this will mean the participant will only need to complete the 2 Essential
modules and 1 Elective module in order to move forward to assessment. However, since the
participant will have access to the second Elective module, we regret there can be no reduction in
cost if an exemption is claimed.
Notice: Teacher Reference Number
It is very important that you provide your Teacher reference Number (TRN) correctly in your
application. This is a requirement for registration with NCTL and also so that your scholarship
amount can be allocated in time for the start of your programme. Most often, the TRN can be found
on your school’s central record (which is an Ofsted safeguarding requirement), on your QTS
certificate, on your application form for a teaching post and on your Teachers’ Pension annual
statement. It is also part of the online login to access the Teachers’ Pension Service online so it’s
worth checking to see if you asked your computer to remember it. Some employers include the TRN
on a salary slip.
The TRN was previously known as a DfEE number, and similar titles. The TRN is normally in the form:
01 / 23456. If you have a number that is in a different form it is not your TRN and will be rejected by
NCTL. Currently TRNs are handled by Capita. If you have not been successful following the above
suggestions you can also get your Teacher Reference Number by contacting Capita, who co-ordinate
teachers' pension arrangements:
Telephone: 01325 745746
Fax: 01325 745789
Email: tpmail@capitagroup.co.uk
This may take some time though – so we advise you to contact them without delay if you need their
help.
Alternatively you can contact the National College QTS Team via the following information:
Email: qts.enquiries@education.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0207 593 5394
Please note: you will need to provide the QTS team with your full name, date of birth and national
insurance number to be able to request your TRN.
Applications
Applications are now open for the Autumn 2015 intake. Please complete your application and return
to hpearce@coast2coast-tsa.co.uk by Wednesday 30th September 2015.