Frequently Asked Questions – NPQs
Q: How do I register on an NPQ Programme?
A: Visit the DfE website vis this link: https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/
Q: What happens after I have registered for an NPQ programme on the DfE registration portal?
A: Once you’ve registered for your NPQ, you’ll then need to apply separately with your training provider, e.g. UCL. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/departments-and-centres/learning-and-leadership/courses/national-professional-qualifications
Q: Who is the Training Provider?
A: UCL London’s Global University
Q: Who is the Delivery Partner?
A: Inspire Learning Teaching School Hub NW.
Q: How will I know I have been successful gaining a place on my chosen NPQ Programme?
A: UCL will contact you directly via email explain next steps in their welcome letter.
Q: How will I know if I have received a scholarship funded place?
A: UCL will advise you of this via email.
Q: What is UCLeXtend?
A: UCLeXtend is the online portal where you will access all your learning resources for the NPQ programme you are embarking on.
Q: How do I receive my login details for this online portal?
A: Login details will be emailed directly from UCL to the email address you provide at registration, please check your junk and spam folders as they can sometimes arrive in those folders.
Q: I can’t login to UCLeXtend, how do I reset my password?
A: Please click this link https://extend.ucl.ac.uk/login/index.php to access UCLeXtend and use the ‘Lost Password option to generate a new password. Please note that you will need to use the ‘Login’ button on the website as shown below:
Q: I have been able to log in, but I cannot see any course content.
A: If you are unable to see your course materials contact npq@inspirelearningtsh.co.uk detailing what the issue is, include your name and the programme you are following so that they can escalate the issue.
Q: Who is my facilitator? How do I contact them?
A: Via email a ‘welcome letter’ will be issued by delivery partner; Inspire Learning TSH to you when you first joined the NPQ programme. The full details of your programme, including dates, venues and facilitator details are contained within this welcome document. If you no longer have this email/letter, please contact npq@inspirelearning.co.uk and they will be able to provide information.
Q: How can I catch up if I miss a Face to Face (F2F) session or Peer Learning Group (PLG)?
A: If you have been/will be unable to attend a Peer Learning Group or a Face-to-Face session, there is the option to catch up with generic pre-recorded materials. You will be able to access these around 10 days after your originally scheduled sessions with your facilitators. The recorded sessions can be located in the tab appropriate to your session e.g. PLG1, F2F2 etc. under the relevant modules, example below:
Q: How to change your details (including school, email address, mentor details etc.)
A: Go to your UCL Extend homepage. Click on the FAQS and Contact us button as shown below:
Choose the change request form option and complete as required.
Q: How to access your course completion percentage
A: Go to your UCL Extend homepage. You will see a small arrow icon on the top right-hand corner as indicated below. Click on the icon and you will be shown your current completion status and further details should you need them.
Q: How do I record my Line Manager and Formative Assessment task discussions?
A: Go to your UCL Extend homepage. You will see a small bullet point icon in the top left-hand corner as indicated below. Clicking on this will open a scroll down list showing all of the elements of your programme from start to finish.
Scroll down the list and look for the end of the relevant module you have just completed (e.g. Module 1). Towards the end of the module list you will find a section ‘Module Review and Reflection’ and beneath this you can click on ‘M1 FATS and mentor confirmation’ as below:
This will take you to the next page. Click on ‘Answer the questions’ – you will be able to record which FATs you have completed and the learning/discussions with your mentor. This is also where you confirm that you have met with your mentor.
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Q: When is the assessment date for my course?
A: All NPQ programmes have a designated assessment period at the end of the course. The timing of the assessment will depend on when the programme started and its duration. Specialist programmes are 12 months in duration, and Leadership programmes are 18 months. The assessment window for your programme is detailed within the Welcome Letter you received when you first started. If you no longer have this email/letter, please contact npq@inspirelearning.co.uk and they will be able to provide the information. Alternatively, your programme facilitator will be able to provide the dates.
Q: How often should I meet with my mentor/line manager?
A: You are required to meet with your mentor/line-manager a minimum of 3 times during your programme (once per module). These meetings offer the opportunity for you to reflect on your learning, leadership development and to discuss your ongoing implementation project. The meetings also help to ensure that you are supported to fulfil the course requirements.
Q: Can my mentor/line manager access the UCL course materials?
A: Once you have registered, your mentor/line manager will be sent a registration link and joining instructions (using the email address that you provided during registration). This will allow them to access the relevant mentor support materials and templates. It is the participants’ responsibility to ensure that their mentor has all the information they need, for example you may wish to share and discuss key research documents from the UCL site.
Q: Summative Assessments, when should I start to prepare for this?
A: You will be actively engaged in online and peer group learning throughout the programme. It is recommended that you start a Personal Learning Journal (PLJ) so that you can keep a record of the reading, research and discussions that take place, especially those aspects that have had resonance or have shaped your thinking – this will help you when it comes to the final assessment.
Try to ensure that you ‘keep on top’ of the requirements of the programme so that you can reach the 90+% completion benchmark 1 month prior to the assessment. You will then have time to prepare for the summative assessment by watching the recordings and using the resources accessed through the ‘Assessment’ button on your UCL Extend home page.
Q: Do I need to always complete a Module Evaluation form?
A: Yes – this is essential. You will not be able to progress to the next module until you have completed the current module evaluation.
Q: How do I receive my login for summative assessment?
A: Once you reach the completion benchmark of 90% or over you will be contacted by UCL who will email you all the relevant details and logins for the assessment process. These emails will be sent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your assessment period. Please ensure you check junk/spam folders regularly as firewalls and security settings may interfere with communication in some school/personal email inboxes.
Q: What happens if I have not reached 90% by summative assessment window opening?
A: It is your responsibility to keep up with the requirements of the programme, this includes monitoring your completion rate. (See FAQ – How to access course completion). If you do not reach the required level prior to the assessment period, you will not be provided with a login for the assessment itself and as a result will be recorded as a failure.
Q: How many attempts of the summative assessment is possible?
A: Participants are given two attempts at the summative assessment. No further attempts can be made after this.
Q: What to do if your circumstances change and you feel unable to continue with the programme (defer/withdraw)
A: Deferral
If your circumstances change part-way through your NPQ programme due to professional or personal reasons, it may be possible for you to defer and join a later cohort. Before deciding to defer, you should speak to your mentor/line manager/headteacher, who will need to agree to the deferral. Once you have done this, you will need to contact npq@inspirelearningtsh.co.uk to let them know of your intention to defer and you will be sent a copy of the of UCL’s Deferral and Withdrawal Policy. If the deferral is appropriate and agreed, Inspire Learning TSH will provide further advice and process the deferral. Access to subsequent cohorts will depend on availability of programmes/places and funding/scholarships.
A: Withdrawal
If you do not wish to continue with your NPQ qualification it is possible for you to withdraw from the programme. Before deciding to withdraw, you should speak to your mentor/line manager/headteacher, who will need to agree to the withdrawal. Once you have done this, you will need to contact npq@inspirelearningtsh.co.uk to let them know of your intention to withdraw and you will be sent a copy of the of UCL’s Deferral and Withdrawal Policy. Inspire Learning TSH will provide further advice and process the withdrawal as appropriate. Please note that funding for NPQs is provided by the DfE and if you withdraw from any of the NPQ programmes it will not be possible for you to return to that programme again in the future. It may however be possible for you to join a different NPQ programme, but this will depend on availability of programmes/places and funding/scholarships.