Middle Leadership Development Programme
The Middle Leadership Development Programme (MLDP) has now closed.
We’re introducing new qualifications and other development opportunities for middle and senior leaders, which are now available.
They’re part of our new leadership curriculum, which offers more flexible options to support leaders at every stage of their career. The curriculum has five levels, with each level offering a choice of modules that may be combined to pursue a nationally recognised qualification (levels one to three) or studied alone.
- See an overview of the leadership curriculum.
- Read our frequently asked questions about the leadership curriculum.
The National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML)
NPQML (level one of the leadership curriculum) is aimed at individuals with responsibility for leading a team, including key stage, subject and curriculum leaders, pastoral leaders and heads of department. It’s designed to support participants in becoming highly effective middle leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge to drive successful team performance and improved classroom practice.
Although NPQML will replace MLDP, there are important differences. While MLDP was developed to appeal to a broad audience and to cover a range of topics in a generic way, NPQML offers a more rigorous programme of study that explores the role of middle leaders in greater depth, and responds to the significant changes that have taken place in schools since MLDP was launched in 2009.
The National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
Whereas MLDP and NPQML focus on individuals and the skills they need to lead a team or subject area, NPQSL (level two of the leadership curriculum) moves the focus of learning to cross-school issues.
NPQSL is designed to meet the needs of senior leaders who are involved in leading a range of issues that affect the whole school or organisation. They include experienced middle leaders, deputy heads, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and advanced skills teachers, and other senior staff looking for further professional development, but not aspiring to headship at this stage in their career.
Choosing the right qualification
If you’ve already started or completed MLDP, it’s likely that you’ll want to move straight on to the next stage of your development and apply for NPQSL, our new qualification for senior leaders, which is described above.
If you’d prefer to continue to focus on developing your skills as a middle leader, or just want to take a break before moving straight onto the next level qualification, there are two options.
- Undertake a single study module – some modules can be studied on their own as stand-alone courses and are ideal for plugging gaps in knowledge or experience.
- Apply for NPQML – MLDP graduates who have successfully completed the programme and presented their MLDP leadership challenge are eligible for exemption from one (elective) module at level one of the leadership curriculum, giving you a head start in gaining this nationally recognised qualification.
If you are a current MLDP participant and are interested in NPQML, you can register for NPQML in parallel. Provided you successfully complete MLDP, you can claim the exemption and will only need to complete the two essential modules for NPQML.
- Find out more about exemptions for prior learning.
- Read a description of available study modules.
- Read our frequently asked questions for MLDP facilitators and participants.
Scholarships
Anyone who has successfully completed MLDP is eligible for a full or part scholarship towards the cost of undertaking one of our new qualifications.
Using MLDP to gain credits towards other qualifications
Your learning as a facilitator or participant on MLDP can contribute Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points towards a Master's-level degree.
MLDP facilitators seeking to claim CATS points for work undertaken during the programme should contact a school leading initial teacher training (ITT), as it is likely they will be linked to a university and will be able to advise further. Alternatively, universities should be contacted directly to discuss CATS points available and evidence required for submission. Based on evidence provided, the learning outcomes will be converted to achieve the credit points.
