Growing Together NPQ Spotlight - Rebecca Sarchet

A Spotlight on… The NPQ in Leading Literacy with Rebecca Sarchet from Walverden Primary School.

In this new blog series, we will be shining a spotlight on the NPQ courses we have on offer in partnership with Teach First, including showcasing some of our fantastic programme members.

Added to the roster of courses in October 2022, the NPQ in Leading Literacy (NPQLL) is a vital inclusion in our NPQ offering, targeting whole school literacy gaps with tangible strategies and cohesive leadership. Our motto with our first cohort is that literacy is not just the responsibility of the English department, and we are incredibly lucky to have leaders on both of our 22-23 cohorts from a range of phases and subject disciplines, united by their passion for literacy. If you too get fired up when planning for learners being able to read, write and be prepared to tackle life with their literacy skills, you would be a welcome addition to our next cohort.

Rebecca Sarchet joined the inaugural cohort of the NPQLL in October 2022. After nine years in the primary classroom, Rebecca was keen to take the next step in her literacy leadership and felt like the NPQLL was the perfect course to support her to do this. She has been pleased with the course being as impactful as she hoped, both on her own classroom practice and her ability to lead others:

“The course has … made me very reflective of my own practice in the classroom and of the school as a whole. It has provided me with knowledge, skills and strategies I have been able to use straight away. Overall, the course has had an extremely positive impact on my work in school.”

As Rebecca has attested to, by undertaking this qualification, leaders gain a deep understanding of literacy development, assessment, and intervention, enabling them to transform teaching and learning outcomes for learners across the board, from early years through to Key Stage 5. With its emphasis on evidence-based practice and a focus on instructional leadership, the NPQLL equips leaders like Rebecca with the tools they need to drive positive change.

Not only this, but the course is designed with busy teachers in mind. It utilises a combination of online seminars, flexible online learning modules, and in-person conferences to ensure accessibility and convenience for participants. Like many others, Rebecca was searching for a course which would be flexible and believes the NPQLL has fulfilled this role for her:

“The NPQ modules and seminars have been easily accessible around my work needed for school. Each module has required a few hours of work, which can be dipped in and out of over the course of 2 - 3 weeks, meaning I could spend as little or as much time on it in one sitting.”

The NPQLL is well-suited for enthusiastic educational leaders aiming to promote excellence in literacy and bring about positive change in their schools and organisations. It caters to a diverse range of professionals, including current and aspiring literacy coordinators, subject leaders, senior leaders, local authority education officers, and academy trust leaders. The programme warmly welcomes applications from any individuals who are committed to enhancing literacy outcomes and nurturing a culture of literacy within their educational settings.

Rebecca herself is lucky to have secured her next teaching post, with the opportunity to put everything she has learnt into practice with a potential new leadership role. It is fantastic that her NPQLL work has set her apart and, hopefully, helped her realise her dreams of that next step in her career:

“I am looking to gain a leadership role within a primary school, preferably in Literacy. Having taught at my current school for 9 years, I have managed to secure a new role for this September, with a chance of becoming Literacy leader! If not, I will strive for the opportunity in the future. A new school, new children and new colleagues will only help me further my experiences, improve my networking and further build my leadership skills. I am looking forward to using my developing knowledge around leading literacy in my new school to hopefully improve children’s attitudes towards reading for pleasure.”

Here at Growing Together, we are excited this course has been added to our offering, believing that literacy is a fundamental skill that underpins education, impacting academic success and personal growth. Effective literacy leadership has a ripple effect, benefiting the entire school community by improving learner engagement and achievement across subjects. The development whilst studying for their NPQ establishes a community of practice for leaders, enabling them to share best practices, collaborate, and promote continuous improvement. So, why would Rebecca recommend completing the NPQLL with Aldridge Education and Teach First?

“I can honestly say I didn’t know what to expect at the beginning of my NPQ, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the process. With a small group of us completing the NPQLL this year, I feel like everyone is now familiar with each other and sharing our best practices has been invaluable. The seminars have been after the school day has finished, meaning I have not needed time out of class to complete them. Getting to meet everyone on the conference day was lovely too – you’ve spoken over a webcam, but now you can meet them face to face! Teach First / Aldridge Education have been readily available, helpful and accessible throughout the course. I would highly recommend going through them to anyone who is considering completing an NPQ.”

It has been a pleasure to work with Rebecca and we wish her luck with taking those next steps in her career with the NPQLL behind her.

Does this sound like the next step in your career? Or could there be a different leadership course for you? Find out more information about our courses and how to apply here: https://aldridgeeducation.org/myNPQ/ or get in touch with a member of the Growing Together team at GrowingTogether@aldridgeeducation.org.

By joining one of our NPQ courses, such as the NPQ in Leading Teacher Development, educators can unlock their leadership potential and make a significant impact on education, empowering students and shaping the future of learning. We offer a range of NPQ courses, including NPQLT (Leading Teaching), NPQLL (Leading Literacy), NPQLTD (Leading Teacher Development), NPQLBC (Leading Behaviour and Culture), NPQSL (Senior Leadership), and NPQH (Headship). So, no matter where you are in your career, we have a course that's right for you.