How the NPQLT enabled Mark Maddock to become a more confident leader

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are designed to provide support and training to teachers and leaders, and at Inspire Learning Teaching School Hub NW, we deliver the full suite of programmes.

In this blog, we speak to Mark Maddock, a local teacher who completed his first NPQ in Spring 2022 with our hub.

Mark undertook the NPQ for Leading Teaching, which is for teachers who have or are aspiring to have responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase. Its curriculum focuses on teaching, school culture, classroom practice, subject, assessment, and more.

Speaking about his expectations of the programme, Mark believed that they were met: “(Yes), I was able to reflect upon my professional practice and implement a project to develop my leadership skills.”

The NPQLT totals 55 hours and includes mentoring sessions, an induction and consolidation conference, and self-directed learning. With self-directed learning making up 30 of the 55 hours, Mark could complete the studying at his own convenience.

Reflecting on his experience with the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching, Mark described himself as ‘a more confident leader’: “On a professional level I am more confident in implementing the roll-out of new approaches in school. I also have a greater understanding of how to ensure a new approach has longevity with the help of collegiality.”

When asked what advice he would give to prospective participants, Mark said: “Engage as fully as you can with the face-to-face sessions as these allow you to network and seek clarification on anything you may be unsure about throughout the course.”

Following his completion of the programme, Mark detailed his plans of building and implementing the skills he has acquired into school and continuing to coach and mentor colleagues in implementing new projects in school.

At Inspire Learning Teaching School Hub NW, NPQs are delivered in partnership with the Centre for Educational Leadership at University College London, meaning that they are backed by the best available research and have been developed in collaboration with the sector.

Find out more information about the NPQLT here.