National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML)

This course is being run in collaboration with Altius, Kaizen, LLSE and the Sevenoaks Partnership.

Are you, or are you aspiring to be, a middle leader with the responsibility for leading a team?

For example a:

• key stage leader
• curriculum area leader
• pastoral services leader
• subject leader
• special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
• head of department

This includes middle leaders working across more than one school, for example, specialist leaders of education.

What’s involved?

The duration of study is from mid October to early May. There are 4 face to Face days, following a 1/2-day Induction session and then a Final Assessment Workshop in May. 

As well as on the job training & support, you will complete an online entry and exit Leadership Diagnostics that identify development areas through feedback from colleagues. You receive challenge & support through a coach/mentor; you also have to complete a school improvement project that contributes towards your final assessment and demonstrate your competence linked to the knowledge and skills set out in the 6 content areas (see below).

Content areas

The 6 content areas across which you will develop your middle leadership knowledge and skills are:

• strategy and improvement
• teaching and curriculum excellence
• leading with impact
• working in partnership
• managing resources and risks
• increasing capability

Leadership behaviours

The 7 leadership behaviours that you will have the opportunity to develop are:

• commitment
• collaboration
• personal drive
• resilience
• awareness
• integrity
• respect