Cumbria Education Trust (CET) proudly celebrated the success of all participants who have recently and successfully completed their National Professional Qualification (NPQ) with CET and Ambition Institute, at their inaugural NPQ Celebration Event on Thursday 14th March 2024.
Held at the Castle Inn, Bassenthwaite, in partnership with Ambition Institute, CET recognised the achievements of all participants who have passed an NPQ with CET to date, which includes educational professionals working in schools and institutions right across Cumbria and the north west of England. The event highlighted the dedication, expertise and impact that these qualifications have made, in both the personal and professional development of our educational staff and their link to sustained school improvement and positive outcomes for young people. The event also marked the fantastic contributions made by our Visiting Fellows, who have facilitated these programmes to date.
NPQs, are nationally recognised qualifications accredited by the Department for Education and they support the professional development of teachers and school leaders. Through thought-provoking discussions, independent study and apply tasks, in-person clinics and assessments, each NPQ equips professionals with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to excel in their roles and drive positive change within a specific area of school improvement.
In partnership with Ambition Institute, CET have so far delivered a suite of seven Specialist and Leadership NPQs to educational professionals based in schools across Cumbria and the Northwest of England and the NPQ Celebration event showcased the remarkable accomplishments of all participants, providing opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and professional growth.
Lorrayne Hughes, Chief Executive, opened the event with a compassionate speech about the importance of building knowledge and the hard work of everyone involved in the current educational world, supporting young people in schools across Cumbria, and those driving school improvement, including our NPQ graduates. Marie Hamer, Executive Director of Strategy and Impact, Ambition Institute also acknowledged the impact that NPQs have, especially on young people and commended the participants on their achievements.
During the event, CET’s Leadership Team and Visiting Fellows delivered speeches that ranged from humorous anecdotes to heartfelt reflections. They shared insights on the development of the course, discussed their personal learning experiences, and expressed pride in their cohorts’ achievements. The event culminated in a formal presentation ceremony, in which all NPQ participants received a certificate and prestigious glass keepsake, in reflection of completing their NPQ.
Laura Dandy, a teacher at Workington Academy who completed her NPQ in Leading Teacher Development, said, “I had such an enjoyable evening and it was a very nice way to celebrate and to more formally say thank you to Rose, my Visiting Fellow. It was great to get dressed up and mingle with the other people attending, sharing stories and planning our future careers.”
Ellen Mothersdale, Visting Fellow and Facilitator of the NPQ in Senior Leadership, added, “It was a great pleasure to take part in the celebration of my colleagues’ success with their NPQs. As a Visiting Fellow, I feel privileged to support the development and progression of professional knowledge and skills of future great leaders of education.”
Nic Tweddle, CET Leadership Development Lead, commented, “We are incredibly proud of our NPQ graduates to date and this event was simply about formally congratulating them on their fantastic professional achievement. It was an extremely positive evening and it is clear to see from all of our NPQ participants, along with their Headteachers, the positive impact that NPQs are having on their professional development. It showcased their ability to further support and drive school improvement and in turn, the outcomes and life chances of our young people. A huge thank you must also go to our Visiting Fellows, who have facilitated our NPQ programmes to date, so diligently and professionally, creating high-quality learning experiences for all of our participants and helping to secure our 100% NPQ pass rate to date.”
The event wrapped up with a toast to the achievements and it allowed each NPQ programme cohort to catch up and reflect on their journey to date, as well as make plans for further professional development through CET and Ambition Institute.
An inspiring evening was had by all and a big thank you goes to Nic Tweddle for organising both the event and leading and coordinating all CET NPQ programmes to date, Cat Lawson, Gill Mclean and Jocelyn Newman for their event management and support, Carl McCallig for providing IT support and Pip Goodridge for photography and media expertise.
CET, in partnership with Ambition Institute, boast a 100% NPQ pass rate to date. If you are interested in completing an NPQ, becoming a Visiting Fellow or for more information about all of our NPQ courses on offer, you can visit www.cumbriaeducationtrust.org/npqs or contact npqs@cumbriaeducationtrust.org.
