Associate College
NPQ for Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
In the Department for Education's (DfE's) March 2022 white paper, it states that:
“Schools will be able to have a trained literacy expert through a new National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy.”
The new National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy is important for primary and secondary schools.
Although the role varies, many phase leaders, key stage leaders, and heads of department (or similar titles) with responsibilities for leading literacy are considered to be part of the middle leadership team.
An excellent literacy leader will have a deep understanding of the fundamental importance of literacy and recognise its influence on students’ future academic achievement, wellbeing, and success in life.
In addition, they will have expertise across several specialist areas related to their role (eg developing students’ spoken language) and a passion for literature that they want to share with the school community.
Literacy leaders also need to understand the school and wider community in which they work, enabling them to share their expertise effectively. They must understand how to prioritise professional development to ensure their colleagues have the knowledge, skills, understanding and professional support to teach reading and writing effectively. They must also work with their colleagues, collectively enabling their school to keep improving. This new qualification will assist with all of these elements.
To find out more about the NPQ in Leading Literacy with the National Institute of Teaching please visit their website:
Who is the NPQ for Leading Literacy for?
- Teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase.
- Anyone who needs to understand how to prioritise professional development to ensure their colleagues have the knowledge, skills, understanding and professional support to teach reading and writing effectively.
What does the programme include?
The key sections of the qualification are as follows:
- Teaching
- Developing Language
- Developing Reading
- Developing writing
- Professional Development
This National Professional Qualification will be a highly practical blended programme. It will allow you to reflect on best practice and to hear from excellent leaders delivering in these areas both locally and nationally.
The qualification will include self-directed study, webinars and face-to-face sessions. It will be assessed through a short case study at the end of the programme.
When does the programme start?
November 2025
Funding
For the November 2025 cohort, funding is available to schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils as well as early years and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage. Find out more about funding and eligibility criteria here.
If your school was not eligible for funding, the NPQ for Leading Literacy cost £850.
How to apply
- Region: West Midlands
- NPQ Campus Preference: Windsor Academy Trust
- Programme Start Date: November 2025
The full range of NPQs are offered with the National Institute of Teaching through centrally based cohorts across the West Midlands, should you wish to apply for any of the other NPQs not being offered by Windsor Academy Trust please visit their website and apply here.
Find out more
To find out more about the NPQ in Leading Literacy with the National Institute of Teaching please visit their website: