Leadership Development
Experiences and Qualifications
Leadership opportunities available through
Learners First Schools Partnership


Leadership Overview
Learners First School Partnership is proud of the high quality, authentic and research rich professional development delivered by and for school leaders and practitioners. Through our expanding partnership, we have an abundance of excellent practitioners and school and Trust leaders, including governors who share their expertise through case studies, NPQ facilitation and value the peer challenge that our network provides.
From September 2022, we are offering twelve DfE and non DfE accredited leadership programmes and experiences which provide a comprehensive and coherent offer designed to support and equip aspirant, new and established leaders at all levels within the workforce to address current and emerging leadership priorities both at an individual and institutional level.
Specialist NPQ Qualifications

NPQ Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school. They may have responsibilities for the development of all teachers across a school or specifically trainees or teachers who are early in their career.

NPQ Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school.

NPQ Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.

NPQ Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
A brand new NPQ for those who are leading literacy programmes across a school, year group, key stage or phase, or who are aspiring to such roles in the future.
Leadership NPQ Qualifications

NPQ Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
A completely new NPQ for leaders in early years settings, qualified to at least Level 3 who are, or are aspiring to be, managers of Private, Voluntary and Independent nurseries, headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries, or childminders with leadership responsibilities
The NPQEL will be delivered locally through Learners First Schools Partnership

NPQ Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross school responsibilities.

NPQ Headship (NPQH)
For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a head teacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.

NPQ Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive head teacher or have a school trust Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role with responsibility for leading several schools.

High quality, rich and diverse professional learning opportunities for leaders
The ‘Excellence in Practice’ series is designed to support colleagues to consider and unpack the latest leadership conundrums, challenges and research in a practical way through a range of leadership lenses. They provide participants with access to real-world approaches, inspirational ideas from successful current leaders and innovative practice in other organisations, contexts and phases to shape their own thinking. They offer the flexibility and agility to respond to the requirements of participants, their organisations and the ever evolving landscape of education. Whether you are starting out on your leadership journey, wish to develop your experience across the broad domains of Middle Leadership or are wishing to find a network of like-minded school business and operations team leaders, our Excellence in Practice suite of experiences could be for you.
Each opportunity in this series incorporates an option for school visits, peer networking opportunities, school-based action research (relevant to role), literature reviews and facilitated face to face delivery. Collectively, we feel that the Excellence in Practice opportunities alongside the reformed suite of NPQs offer high quality, rich and diverse professional learning opportunities for leaders at all levels which aim to:
- Provide real, authentic and challenging learning experiences to support and extend school leaders’ thinking, practice and influence;
- Help schools and MATs to weave the ‘Golden Thread’ of the national offer into local practice;
- Recognise that great schools need great leaders, within the classrooms and beyond, in order to maximise the impact on pupil outcomes and life chances;
- Celebrate leadership diversity in the education system, appreciating the role of both teaching and non-teaching leaders;
- Provide first hand experiences and exposure to different practices, approaches and strategies which encourage leaders to become professionally curious, inquisitive and discerning;
- Create opportunities for reciprocal networking, peer support and the reinvestment of learning back into the partnership for the benefit of others;
- Offer practical solutions and strategies which can be applied effectively to a range of contexts;
- Encourage engagement with and contributions to academic and sector research.

For aspiring teacher and curriculum support colleagues taking their first steps into leadership beyond their own classroom.

For aspiring teacher and curriculum support colleagues taking their first steps into leadership beyond their own classroom.

For aspiring/current senior leaders (including those with a remit beyond one school) who have the responsibility and accountability for leading school improvement through others and the delivery of school/trust-wide policy.

For non-teacher leaders and managers who are responsible for leading other colleagues to carry out a support or business function in schools.

Leadership Development Contact
For information regarding Leadership Development or to discuss your options please contact:
Leadership Development Lead: Rachel Nash
- Email: rnash@learnersfirst.org
- Telephone: 01709 267 021
- Twitter: @Learners_First