NPQ Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)

Develop teachers. Strengthen professional learning. Improve outcomes.

The National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) equips current and aspiring leaders of teacher development with the knowledge, skills and confidence to improve professional learning across their schools.

Designed for teachers working in international schools, this Department for Education-accredited qualification combines expert-led training, flexible online learning, practical school-based development and one-to-one coaching.

Educational Success Partners delivers NPQLTD in partnership with Best Practice Network, a Department for Education-licensed NPQ provider with extensive experience of supporting thousands of teachers and school leaders.

Delivered remotely over 12 months, the programme enables teachers around the world to gain a highly regarded professional qualification without stepping away from their current role.

Inspire professional growth. Develop colleagues. Strengthen teaching across your school.

NPQLTD at a glance

  • 12-month, part-time programme

  • Three virtual face-to-face events

  • Flexible online study

  • Five hours of in-school performance coaching

  • 74 total learning hours

  • Department for Education-accredited qualification

  • Final assessment through a case-study scenario

  • 40 Master’s credits on successful completion

  • Remote worldwide delivery for international schools

Who is NPQLTD for?

NPQLTD is designed for teachers and school leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibility for developing other teachers.

It is particularly suitable for:

  • Leaders of teacher training or continuing professional development programmes

  • Teachers responsible for designing or delivering professional learning

  • Mentors and coaches supporting the development of colleagues

  • Leaders overseeing induction or early career development

  • Initial teacher training leads

  • Professional development coordinators

  • Teachers supporting colleagues’ career progression

Applicants should have completed at least two full years of teaching and hold QTS, QTLS, a Level 5 or higher qualification in any subject, or an international equivalent.

Participants must also identify an appropriate in-school performance coach who can support their development throughout the programme.

Become an expert leader of teacher development

Effective professional development is central to improving teaching, supporting colleagues and achieving better outcomes for pupils.

Leading teacher development requires an understanding of how teachers learn, how professional development should be designed and delivered, and how schools can create a culture in which colleagues are encouraged to improve their practice.

Leaders must also be able to identify development needs, select appropriate approaches and ensure professional learning results in meaningful and sustainable changes to classroom practice.

Through NPQLTD, participants develop the specialist knowledge needed to:

  • Identify individual and whole-school teacher development needs

  • Understand what research tells us about effective professional development

  • Design professional development that is focused, evidence-informed and relevant

  • Deliver professional learning that supports lasting changes in practice

  • Support initial teacher training and early career development

  • Mentor and coach colleagues effectively

  • Plan and implement professional development programmes

  • Evaluate the quality and impact of professional learning

  • Make informed, evidence-based leadership decisions

  • Create a culture in which teachers are motivated and supported to improve

  • Align teacher development with school priorities and pupil needs

A practical programme designed around your role

NPQLTD brings together expert-led training, online study, practical activities, formative assessment and in-school coaching.

The programme gives participants regular opportunities to apply their learning within their own school, reflect on its impact and develop approaches suited to their particular leadership role and educational context.

Learning explores the principles of effective teacher development, the design and delivery of professional learning, implementation, mentoring, coaching and the creation of a strong professional culture.

Flexible remote delivery for international educators

The programme can be completed fully online, making it accessible to teachers and schools worldwide.

Virtual face-to-face events provide structured opportunities for expert input, practical activities, professional dialogue and collaboration with educators from different international contexts. Online learning is completed flexibly around participants’ teaching commitments.

Participants also benefit from:

  • Expert-led training

  • Access to high-quality, evidence-informed resources

  • Global professional networking

  • Practical activities rooted in their current school role

  • One-to-one in-school coaching

  • A structured Leadership Development Record

  • Opportunities to reflect on and demonstrate professional impact

The NPQ certificate awarded to international participants is identical to the certificate received by participants completing the qualification in England.

In-school performance coaching

Participants complete five hours of performance coaching during the programme.

Coaching helps participants connect their learning to their responsibilities in school. The final coaching activity is an impact review completed before the summative assessment.

This personalised support enables participants to reflect on their leadership practice, evaluate progress and identify how their work is strengthening teacher development within their setting.

Assessment

Participants complete formative, practice-led assessment activities throughout the programme. These activities allow them to apply their learning, receive feedback and demonstrate its impact in their school.

The final summative assessment is based on a case-study scenario. Participants are given an eight-day assessment window in which to prepare and submit a written response of no more than 1,500 words.

To pass the qualification, participants must:

  • Engage with at least 90% of the required programme elements

  • Complete the required Leadership Development Record reviews

  • Participate in the virtual face-to-face events

  • Complete the required online practice activities

  • Undertake the formative assessment tasks

  • Engage in in-school performance coaching

  • Submit and pass the final case-study assessment

Benefits for participants

Completing NPQLTD will help participants to:

  • Build the confidence and expertise to lead teacher development effectively

  • Support initial teacher training and early career development

  • Design and deliver effective professional learning

  • Mentor and coach colleagues more confidently

  • Make informed, evidence-based leadership decisions

  • Evaluate the impact of professional development

  • Lead sustainable improvement within their school

  • Develop a strong international professional network

  • Gain a portable qualification valued by schools in England and internationally

  • Earn 40 Master’s credits that may support progression to further postgraduate study

Benefits for schools

Supporting a teacher to complete NPQLTD can help a school to:

  • Develop leadership talent from within

  • Improve the quality and impact of professional development

  • Strengthen support for trainee, early career and experienced teachers

  • Build effective mentoring and coaching capacity

  • Align professional learning with school improvement priorities

  • Embed evidence-informed approaches to teacher development

  • Support leadership succession

  • Improve staff recruitment, development and retention

  • Build a cohesive, impact-focused leadership team

  • Create sustainable improvements in teaching and pupil outcomes

Schools and headteachers can also receive updates on participants’ progress through the programme.

Delivery partnership

Educational Success Partners works in partnership with Best Practice Network, a Department for Education-licensed NPQ provider, to make nationally recognised professional qualifications accessible to teachers and leaders in British and international schools worldwide.

Best Practice Network has extensive experience of delivering NPQs and supporting thousands of educators. Together, ESP and Best Practice Network combine high-quality, evidence-informed professional development with flexible remote delivery and a practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by international schools.

Programme fee

The programme fee is £1,375, which includes admission, tuition, assessment and the final award of the NPQLTD upon successful completion.

 Self-funding candidates will be subject to 20% UK VAT.

Apply for the autumn 2026/27 cohort

Applications for the autumn 2026/27 cohort must be received by 23:59 UK time on 25 October 2026.

Prospective participants should discuss the programme with their Headteacher, Principal or professional development lead before applying.

Consider your professional goals, the responsibilities you would like to develop and how your participation will benefit your school and its pupils.

For more information about NPQLTD or to apply email Mark Bignell on mark@espeducation.co.uk.