From autumn 2021, a new and updated suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) will be available for teachers and leaders who want to develop their knowledge and skills in school leadership and specialist areas of teaching practice. This includes the addition of three new NPQs in specialist areas of teaching along with reformed leadership NPQs. Further information on the national roll-out of the reformed NPQs can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-professional-qualifications-npqs-reforms/national-professional-qualifications-npqs-reforms

To support the quality of these qualifications, the Department is seeking to appoint an External Moderator to ensure the assessment of NPQs is rigorous and reflects the content of the NPQ frameworks.

The DfE is holding a market engagement event on Wednesday 10th November – 16:00 – 17:00 to discuss the role of the external moderator before issuing an invitation to tender.

The external moderation of NPQ summative assessments is key, both to ensure fairness in how teachers and leaders are assessed, and to uphold the ongoing value and reputation of NPQs. It is essential for the Department to ensure that NPQ summative assessment scripts are marked to a high standard nationally and consistently.

This event is intended to be an ‘information only’ event without live discussion. However, we will be taking questions before, during and after the event and will look to answer these either during the event, through JAGGAER, or in the final specification document. The recording of the presentation will also be published to JAGGAER after the event.

Please email: NPQ.EXTERNALMODERATION@education.gov.uk if you wish to submit queries before the event.

Please submit these by Monday 8th November and we will attempt to cover as many of these as possible during the event.

NPQ National External Moderator Market Engagement