National Professional Qualifications - Leading Teaching

This webpage shows how the NCCE offer maps against each of the eight standards in the Leading Teaching NPQ.

Choose a standard of interest to skip to that section:


Standard 1: Teaching

The Computer Science Accelerator CPD programme provides subject knowledge enhancement in computer science through to GCSE.
The Teach Computing Curriculum, for students aged 5-16, is structured to provide solid progression in single lessons, and sequenced to support long-term learning objectives. It includes learning graphs that help the planning of teaching to progressively build conceptual understanding and skill.
CAS Communities of Practice are informal networking and professional development events, during which you share expertise and discuss challenges with others leading computing.
Our pedagogy guidance provides the skills to plan and deliver effective lessons across computing.
Isaac Computer Science is an engaging platform for A level computer science. It can be used effectively by students, in or outside of the classroom.
Primary CPD:
Get started teaching computing in primary schools: preparing to teach 5-11 year olds
Teaching and leading key stage 1 computing
Teaching and leading key stage 2 computing
Primary programming and algorithms
Secondary CPD:
Select the right Computer Science Accelerator subject knowledge pathway for you and your colleagues.
Programming pedagogy in secondary schools: inspiring computing teaching
GCSE Computer Science - developing outstanding teaching

Additional support available from our partners:

STEM Clubs are out-of-timetable sessions that enrich and broaden the curriculum, giving young people the chance to explore subjects like science, technology, engineering, maths and computing in less formal settings.
Planning for learning online course

Standard 2: School Culture

Our subject leadership CPD for primary and secondary computing helps subject leaders to develop and articulate a clear vision and purpose for the subject, opening up pathways to digital creativity and future success for students.

You'll learn best practice for developing your team, building trust and enthusiasm among all subject teachers.
Code Clubs are fully supported extra-curricular activities, bringing enjoyment and challenge to the wider subject of computing and helping you develop stronger relationships with learners outside of formal lessons, contributing to the life of the school.
Primary CPD:
Outstanding primary computing for all
Careers and enrichment in primary computing with STEM Ambassadors in your region
Secondary CPD:
Enriching secondary computing with STEM Ambassadors in your region
Encouraging girls into GCSE computer science
Teaching GCSE computer science: improving student engagement

Additional support available from our partners:

Managing behaviour for learning online course
Linking STEM curriculum learning to careers online course

Standard 3: How Pupils Learn

You'll find the latest evidence-based practice woven throughout the NCCE CPD offer, including instructional methods, how to reduce extraneous cognitive load and how to build long-term recall.
Our pedagogy quick reads explore subject-specific and generic approaches to teaching and learning that improve outcomes in computing - from scaffolded approaches to peer tutoring.
Primary CPD:
Programming pedagogy in primary schools: developing computing teaching
Secondary CPD:
Teaching GCSE computer science: developing knowledge and understanding

Additional support available from our partners:

The science of learning online course

Standard 4: Subject and Curriculum

The Teach Computing Curriculum, for students aged 5-16, is expertly sequenced to support learning progression and teaching of computing at developmentally-appropriate levels. Assessment is built-in, to ensure learners are reaching your expectations.
Tailor the secondary curriculum to the specific needs of your school context with our live or on-demand curriculum design courses.
School engagement programme - our subject matter experts are on-hand to help computing departments plan effective lessons and curriculum implementation, free of charge. They can mentor teachers in best practice in computing education, and guide them through the NCCE offer.
Teach skills that lead to success in computing, such as collaboration in programming and computational problem-solving at key stage 3.
Develop a core computing offer for all students at key stage 4.
Boost the subject knowledge among students of A level computer science with the Isaac Computer Science online learning platform.
Primary CPD:
Introduction to primary computing
Get started teaching computing in primary schools: preparing to teach 5-11 year olds
Primary programming and algorithms
Secondary CPD:
Develop deep subject knowledge across the computer science curriculum on a Computer Science Accelerator pathway.

Standard 5: Classroom Practice

Share classroom practice with experienced teachers of computing at your local CAS Community.
The Teach Computing podcast is just one aspect of our support for developing pedagogy.
Learn effective pedagogical approaches for teaching programming in secondary computing.
Keep up-to-date with Impact of technology: how to lead classroom discussions.
Our course on improving computing classroom practice through action research helps you evaluate the impact of your department’s assessment practices.
All of our face-to-face and remote CPD includes action planning for classroom implementation of CPD, and guidance for evaluating its impact.
Primary CPD:
Programming pedagogy in primary schools: developing computing teaching
Secondary CPD:
Teaching GCSE computer science pedagogy for programming
Maths in computer science

Standard 6: Adaptive Teaching

Primary and secondary CPD:
Build your skills in creating an inclusive classroom: approaches to supporting learners with SEND in computing
Secondary CPD:
Consider barriers to progress and plan to overcome them with adapted teaching and effective learning interventions.

Additional support available from our partners:

Differentiation for learning online course

Standard 7: Assessment

Our quality-assured assessments support GCSE teaching, ensuring that KS3 foundations are secure and providing GCSE-level, self-marking assessments to monitor progress.
The Teach Computing Curriculum contains integrated assessment materials, including multiple-choice test banks and assessment rubrics.
Primary CPD:
Assessment of primary computing
Secondary CPD:
Assessment in secondary computing
Assessment and progession in KS3 computing

Additional support available from our partners:

Managing behaviour for learning online course
Introducing assessment for learning online course

Standard 8: Professional Development

Become an effective leader of professional development through expert-led CPD, giving you confidence to support the development of your teaching colleagues.
The wide range of Teach Computing CPD is focused on improving student outcomes such as higher attainment in GCSE computer science - meeting the challenge of exams.
The impact of research-based approaches in the computing classroom can be better informed through participation in our online course on improving computing classroom practice through action research.