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This course is designed to support teaching assistants and other school support staff to progress to the role of Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
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Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)

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Key Facts

  • Level

    Further EducationFE

  • Duration

    2 terms part time

  • Starting

    September, January, May

    SEP, JAN, MAY

Updated 14/05/2025

Open Days

Updated 14/05/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

Follow Us

hlta@northampton.ac.uk
01604 893527

Overview

Find out more about the programme at our online HLTA Information Evening on Tuesday 17 June 2025, 5-6pm

This HLTA course is designed to support teaching assistants and other school support staff to progress to the role of Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), recognising your experience and the specialist support you offer to your workplace. HLTA status is recognition of your ability to work at a higher level with increased responsibility. Working towards this goal can be regarded as a natural progression for able and experienced support staff within education.

We cover the East Midlands, Peterborough, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk regions. All taught elements of this programme are online, with six preparation sessions. The timing of preparation sessions are usually between 12.30pm – 3pm unless stated otherwise.

Highlights

  • Online facilitated learning (also know as Preparation for Assessment) within the university approved interactive platform.
  • HLTA status approved by HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP)
  • Excellent ongoing tutor support
  • Experienced assessors who receive up to date HNAP feedback
  • Gain recognised HLTA status for your ability to work at a higher level.
  • Earn credits that can be used towards our FdA Learning and Teaching degree.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this HLTA course online you must:

  • have the endorsement of your headteacher who knows that you must have opportunities to take whole classes and that they and a teacher in the school will be interviewed by an assessor about how you meet the HLTA standards in the normal course of your work
  • be able to prove that you have advanced the learning of pupils when working with whole classes without the presence of an assigned teacher, in addition to individuals and small groups
  • have achieved a nationally recognised qualification at level 2 or above in English/literacy and mathematics/numeracy in accordance with Standard 11 of the HLTA Standards
  • a minimum of six months experience teaching in schools is required, with 12 months being preferable within your current role.

The application process for this course is direct to the University and not via the Student Self Service pages. For questions regarding the application process, or to request an application pack, please email hlta@northampton.ac.uk or telephone on (01604) 893527.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent)
      for study at undergraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  • The application process for this Higher Level Teaching Assistant course is direct to the University and not via the Student Self Service pages. For questions regarding the application process, or to request an application pack, please email hlta@northampton.ac.uk or call 01604 893527.

Course Content

  • HLTA’s work under the guidance of a teacher within clearly defined roles and responsibilities relevant to their own educational settings. They are experienced practitioners who offer specialist support for learning. A HLTA in a primary school, for example, might give support across the curriculum but with particular expertise to support progress in numeracy, literacy, music or art and design.

    Higher Level Teaching Assistants are highly skilled and have good knowledge of specific aspects of the curriculum. You will be able to undertake whole class teaching activities under the guidance of a teacher, with teachers remaining the leaders and experts in the classroom. The particular responsibilities of an individual HLTA is decided by the school management.

    The six preparation sessions are designed for candidates that already meet the 33 standards, these sessions support you in preparing for assessment. This will include completion of tasks (the written element) and gathering of supporting evidence. These six preparation sessions are designed to address all the HLTA standards in relation to your work in your own educational setting.

    You will benefit from having the opportunity to share and discuss your practice via our University approved online platform with the support of our expert assessors and tutors. You will have the opportunity to dissect and critically reflect on your practice with likeminded colleagues across a variety of educational contexts.

    Each HLTA programme involves six 2.5 hour online sessions and ongoing support. The sessions take place within school working hours, the sessions currently run from 12.30pm to 3pm, all sessions must be attended (online).

    Our next cohort will commence in the autumn term, dates are detailed below:

     

    September cohort 2025

    Session 1: Tuesday 30 September

    Session 2: Thursday 2 October

    Session 3: Tuesday 7 October

    Session 4: Thursday 9 October

    Session 5: Wednesday 12 November

    Session 6: Thursday 13 November

    Application deadline: Wednesday 17 September by midday

    Following dates will be confirmed in due course for the January and May cohorts.

    If you have any queries,  please get in touch with Emma Stephenson at hlta@northampton.ac.uk or call 01604 893527.

  • How will I be assessed?

    As per the Universities partnership with HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP) all assessments will take place online or via phone. Feedback on our assessment processes continues to compliment our nationally recognised process for HLTA status.

    What is the difference between HLTA and unqualified teachers?

    HLTA’s work alongside a class teacher and cover whole classes whilst the teacher is on planning and preparation time (PPA). An unqualified teacher would be assigned a whole class and would be responsible for day to day running of the class, HLTA’s are not expected to do this, usually.

    Is a HLTA qualification equivalent to a degree?

    No is the simple answer, the HLTA Status is not a qualification, it is a professional status proving that a Teaching Assistant or member of support staff in a school/setting is working at a higher level.

    Candidates need to be able to show how they already meet the 33 HLTA standards in their current role in a school/setting. The HLTA Status is gained as recognition of candidates proving they are working at this higher level. We are part of the HLTA National Assessment Partnership.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • Preparation and assessment: £900

Please be aware that payment of the programme fee does not guarantee achievement of the HLTA status. There is no Government funding and HLTA Status is not part of the Apprenticeship Levy scheme.

For more information on fees please contact hlta@northampton.ac.uk or call 01604 893527.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • Preparation and assessment: £850

  • There are no additional costs for students beginning their studies on this course in September 2025. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

Staff

Adam Chapman, Senior Lecturer in Education (ECYP)

Senior Lecturer in Education (ECYP)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Adam Chapman

Special Features

We are recognised as one of the leading national providers of Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) programmes and are the sole Regional Provider of Assessment (RPA) of HLTA candidates in the East Midlands, Peterborough, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk regions. We work closely with the two other regional RPAs within the HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP) to maintain the quality, consistency and continuity of the programme.

Candidates can also benefit from:

  • interactions with colleagues across the East Midlands area (Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland) and Peterborough, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
  • being awarded National Assessment Partnership HLTA Status

For more information visit the HLTA National Assessment Partnership website.

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