--- title: "National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership" description: "Develop your senior leadership skills with the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) in Senior Leadership from Shaw Education Trust. Our NPQ courses are designed for experienced leaders aspiring to senior roles in schools across the North West of England and Staffordshire. Apply now." url: "https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-senior-leadership" school: "Shaw Education Trust" --- # National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) ![](https://shaw-education.org.uk/images/logo/ambition-institute/Ambition-logo.png)We are a proud Delivery Partner of the education charity Ambition Institute delivering the NPQ in **Senior Leadership.** This 18-month programme helps you develop your leadership knowledge and expertise to improve outcomes for teachers and pupils in your school. > Gain an NPQ Senior Leadership accreditation > Enjoy flexible training to suit your timetable > Access evidence-based learning > Learn from leadership experts **Why this programme?** Ambition Institute has designed this ground-breaking NPQ to give you the chance to learn about evidence-based school leadership and put it into practice in your school or trust. Ambition’s 'little and often' approach uses the latest research to help you apply your learning to persistent problems. You'll train alongside other leaders with similar responsibilities, focusing on the key challenges you face in your role. With no project work and minimal time out of school, the NPQs are designed to fit around your busy timetable. [![](https://shaw-education.org.uk/images/images/ioe/npq/IoE_CTA_2.png)](https://www.ambition.org.uk/blog/how-to-apply-for-a-national-professional-qualification/) ![](https://shaw-education.org.uk/images/logo/ambition-institute/DfE_2955_NPQ_SML_AW.png) **NPQSL explained in 90 seconds or less** [NPQSL in 90 seconds or less](https://www.youtube.com/embed/N9D-t_sPq60) **Benefits for you** **Train to your timetable** The flexible programme is designed to fit in with your busy working role. Training is delivered in bite-sized chunks, which is useful for retaining knowledge, and you can learn at a time and pace that suits you. **Build your confidence** Learn how to excel as a leader and get the support you need to take the next step in your career. **Access the latest research** Benefit from the latest evidence-based learning and approaches to great teaching and leadership. See how it can improve schools and change lives. **Enact positive change** Translate what you’ve learned on this programme to your own school context. We'll help you do this by providing models and examples that seek to make the link between theory and practice concrete. **Get peer-to-peer support** Learn from a network of like-minded peers and have the share insights with colleagues in your own school setting. **Benefits for your school or trust** **Create a common knowledge base** NPQ qualifications are aligned, so you can have confidence that all your educators will share a common language and framework to develop your school or trust. **Support your leaders** Senior leaders will be given the tools to drill down into specific areas of leadership to improve their knowledge, make evidence-informed decisions and action positive change. **Learn from evidence** Senior Leaders will be introduced to evidence-informed practices straightaway. This will help them develop strategies to improve teaching and pupil performance at your school. **Make a leadership pipeline** The programme will help to identify future leaders and create a positive culture where teachers can develop and thrive. **Boost attainment** Studies show that high-quality continuous professional development can improve pupil outcomes almost as effectively as having a teacher with 10 years’ experience in the classroom. **Curriculum** **What you'll learn** This programme follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification: Senior Leadership Framework. **You will learn how to:** > Set clear goals and communicate shared values that improve the culture in your classrooms and school > Establish a safe and positive environment for pupils > Support colleagues to meet individual needs and make sure all pupils have access to a rich curriculum > Lead school-wide professional development for staff > Make and act on evidence-informed decisions > Work well with parents, carers, other schools and the wider community > Lead by example, be accountable for decisions and make sure colleagues know their responsibilities. **Note:** *programme content is subject to change.* **How you’ll learn** The programme is delivered through blended learning. This includes a mix of face-to-face conferences, real-time, interactive online sessions and self-guided modules to complete in your own time. You'll put what you learn into practice in your school, tracking your progress and getting feedback as you go. **Note:** The programme starts with a one day face to face conference at our Head Office in Stoke-on-Trent. **Assessment** The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme and runs for three months. During this time, you'll be given an eight-day window to sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study. There are two assessment windows every year, and you can sit the assessment twice, if needed. You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation. We will offer a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you. **Apply** To register your interest: [National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) \| Shaw Education Trust (shaw-education.org.uk)](https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq) ### Related News 11 February 2026 #### [The Benefits of Apprenticeships](https://shaw-education.org.uk/news/2026-02-11-the-benefits-of-apprenticeships) 11 June 2024 #### [An Enriching Educational Journey](https://shaw-education.org.uk/news/2024-06-11-an-enriching-educational-journey) 27 March 2024 #### [Cultivating A Positive Environment For Our Colleagues and Students!](https://shaw-education.org.uk/news/2024-03-27-cultivating-a-positive-environment-for-our-colleagues-and-students) [View All News](https://shaw-education.org.uk/news/tag/education%252Cnpq) ### Related Blog Posts 12 February 2026 #### [The Positive Impact of Apprenticeships](https://shaw-education.org.uk/blog/2026-02-12-08-30-the-positive-impact-of-apprenticeships) 11 February 2026 #### [CFO Interview - 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[NPQ: Early Years Leadership](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-early-years-leadership) - [NPQ: Headship](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-headship) - [NPQ: Leading Behaviour and Culture](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-leading-behaviour-and-culture) - [NPQ: Leading Literacy](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-leading-literacy) - [NPQ: Leading Teaching](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-leading-teaching) - [NPQ: Leading Teacher Development](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-leading-teacher-development) - [NPQ: Senior Leadership](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-in-senior-leadership) - Early Headship Coaching Offer - [NPQ: SENCO](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-for-sencos) - [NPQ: Executive Leadership](https://www.ambition.org.uk/programmes/npqel/) - [NPQ: Leading Primary Maths](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/national-professional-qualifications-npq/national-professional-qualification-for-leading-primary-mathematics) - [NPQ \| FAQ](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/faq) - [Early Career Training Programme (ECTP)](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/early-career-framework-ecf) - [Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education (KNSTE)](https://shaw-education.org.uk/institute-of-education/initial-teacher-training/itt-primary) - [Calendar](https://shaw-education.org.uk/calendar) ## Follow Us on Social Media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ShawEducationTrust) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@shaweducationtrust) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shaw-education-trust) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/shaweducationtrust/) ![Shaw Education Trust](https://files.schudio.com/shaw-education-trust-2/images/logo/set-misc/footer-logo-v1.png) ### Contact Us **Shaw Education Trust** Kidsgrove Secondary School Gloucester Road Kidsgrove ST7 4DL VAT: GB 358822467 Tel: 01782 948259 Company Number: 09067175 ### Our Trust - 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