level:FE;top_up:false;international:false;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:false;part_time:true;start_month:September, January, May;location:Distance Learning
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Key Facts
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Duration
2 terms part time
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Level
Further EducationFE
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Starting
September, January, May
SEP, JAN, MAY
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Preparation and assessment: £995
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Distance Learning
Updated 07/09/2026
Overview
This 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 Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification are online, with six preparation sessions. The timing of preparation sessions is 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 UON’s FdA Learning and Teaching degree.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for this online HLTA course 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
- have experience of teaching whole classes (without a teacher present) at their current school/educational setting for at least 6 months, ideally 12 months
The application process for this Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification 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 893586.
All International and EU students applying for our online HLTA course 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.
Kerry's Story
“Studying [the HLTA] course has helped further my career development, as I’ve been given extra responsibilities within my current role. I now teach English once a week and continue to run the Arts Awards programme.”
What You'll Learn
Higher Level Teaching Assistants 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.
Graduates of our Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification 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 are determined by the school’s management.
Our next cohorts will commence in the Autumn and Spring terms, dates are detailed below:
September cohort 2026
- Session 1: Monday 14 September
- Session 2: Thursday 17 September
- Session 3: Monday 21 September
- Session 4: Wednesday 23 September
- Session 5: Monday 2 November
- Session 6: Wednesday 4 November
Application deadline: Wednesday 9 September by midday.
January cohort 2027
- Session 1: Tuesday 26 January
- Session 2: Wednesday 27 January
- Session 3: Tuesday 2 February
- Session 4: Wednesday 3 February
- Session 5: Tuesday 9 March
- Session 6: Wednesday 10 March
Application deadline: Tuesday 19 January by midday.
If you have any queries, please get in touch at hlta@northampton.ac.uk or call 01604 893586.
Our course’s six preparation sessions are designed for candidates who already meet the 33 HLTA standards and are intended to support you prepare for the assessment. This includes completing the required tasks (the written element) and gathering supporting evidence.
You will benefit from 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 also get the change to dissect and critically reflect on your practice with like-minded colleagues from a variety of educational contexts.
Each HLTA consists of six 2.5-hour online sessions with ongoing support. The sessions take place within school working hours; they currently run from 12.30pm to 3pm. Attendance to all online sessions is mandatory.
How will I be assessed?
As per the university’s partnership with HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP), all assessments are conducted online or by phone. Feedback on our assessment processes continues to complement our nationally recognised process for HLTA status.
What is the difference between HLTAs and unqualified teachers?HLTAs and unqualified teachers can both teach whole classes, but they do so in different capacities. HLTAs are experienced support staff who work with qualified teachers. They may lead whole-class activities or supervise classes during planning, preparation, and assessment (PPA) time, while remaining under the direction of the class teacher.
An unqualified teacher has a different level of responsibility, taking charge of the day-to-day teaching and management of their assigned class. HLTAs are not typically expected do this usually.
Is a HLTA qualification equivalent to a degree?No. HLTA status is not a degree; it is a nationally recognised professional status that demonstrates a teaching assistant or member of support staff in a school/setting is working at a higher level.
To achieve HLTA status, candidates must demonstrate that they already meet the 33 HLTA standards through their current role within a school or educational setting. HLTA status is awarded in recognition of their ability to consistently demonstrate these standards in practice.
UON is a member of the HLTA National Assessment Partnership (HNAP), which oversees the national assessment process for HLTA status.
How hard is the HLTA course?The course is designed for teaching assistants who are already working in the role and have the experience needed to meet the 33 HLTA standards. If you meet the entry requirements, you should already be putting many of these standards into practice every day.
Your focus during the course is therefore on preparing for the assessment. This includes completing the required written tasks, gathering evidence from your professional practice, and demonstrating how your experience meets the HLTA standards.
To support you throughout the process, you will receive guidance from UON’s expert assessors and tutors as you prepare for assessment. Once you have achieved HLTA status, you will be able to undertake whole-class teaching activities under the guidance of a teacher, who remains the leader and expert in the classroom.
What are the skills required to be an HLTA?Successful HLTAs combine strong interpersonal skills with the ability to support teaching and learning effectively. Some of the key skills include:
- Communication
- Behaviour management
- Classroom support
- Observation
- Teamwork and collaboration
UON’s HLTA course helps you develop these skills through online facilitated learning (also known as Preparation for Assessment) within the university approved interactive platform.
Fees and Funding
2026/27 Tuition Fees
- Preparation and assessment: £995
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 893586.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2026/27 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
When assessing an applicant’s eligibility to pay home fees, we use the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) which sets out the regulations that have been decided by the UK Government Department of Education.
Additional Information
There are no additional costs for candidates beginning their studies on this programme in September 2026. Should this change, candidates will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.
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
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
