Section 7: GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation

What is GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation?

Becoming a Lead Practitioner in global learning enables your hard work and the experience you develop in your role as GLP Coordinator to be formally recognised by SSAT through this online professional accreditation.

SSAT believes that teachers make pupils’ lives. As the world gets more complex, that vital role becomes ever more demanding. SSAT helps teachers perform it even better, more confidently and more professionally than before. The SSAT Lead Practitioners’ network began in 2003, funded by the Department for Education to identify best practice in teaching and learning. In 2009, the criteria for SSAT Lead Practitioner accreditation were developed and it is now a nationally recognised endorsement of innovation and effective practice and is referenced as part of a track record for SLE applications with the NationalCollege. In 2013 these criteria were further developed to incorporate key knowledge aspects of development education to form the Global Learning Programme Lead Practitioner accreditation (GLP LP accreditation).

The GLP LP accreditation can also be used to provide credits to contribute towards an Institute of Education, University of London (IOE) Master’s level module. (For more information contact ).

The SSAT Lead Practitioner accreditation is used for a multitude of different subjects and areas of teachers’ professional work. The process of applying is developmental and is just as important as achieving accredited status. It provides a structure to develop your research and leadership of learning. The feedback and testimonials that you will receive will form part of your evidence of the impact of your work and is a really positive affirmation of your work and sphere of influence.

Who is it for?

The GLP Lead Practitioner professional accreditation is open to all who lead practice within their schools or colleges: not only secondary teachers, but teachers in special and primary schools and librarians, teaching assistants and other professionals andsupport staff. The Global Learning Programme provides funding for all Expert Centre Coordinators to become GLP Lead Practitioners. GLP Coordinators in Partner Schools can also become GLP Lead Practitioners but would be eligible to pay the £325 per applicant excluding VAT.

Why apply for GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation?

Benefits for practitioners:

  • national accreditation that recognises professional expertise in leading practice. This can be referenced as part of a track record for SLE applications with the NationalCollege and contribute towards an IOE Master’s module
  • recognition within your own organisation
  • continued professional development through the accreditation process – helping set development targets
  • membership of the wider GLP Lead Practitioner networks
  • access to the GLP Lead Practitioner community with discussion forums, updates on education news and latest research, opportunities to engage with world class leaders in education, access to resources and new ideas to develop practice.

Further CPD opportunities to expand your reach regionally, nationally or indeed internationally

As an accredited GLP Lead Practitioner you will be highly sought after by schools and other organisations to share your expertise. To protect you and the Global Learning Programme, the title ‘accredited GLP Lead Practitioner‘ must not be used for activity with any other organisation without prior consent of the Global Learning Programme.

How long will it last?

Accreditation status will last for three years. In order to ensure practice is current and that applicants remain working at their accredited level or above, you will need to reapply at the end of this three year period.

Benefits for Expert Centres

  • A quality mark of excellent practice which will underpin the work of Expert Centres with their partner schools.
  • A professional development tool to identify and set professional targets for Expert Centre Coordinators and, more widely, for the Centres themselves.
  • Access to a wide range of resources, research and case studies that can be drawn on in working with partner schools.
  • Additional opportunities to engage with current regional, national and international developments through the wider network of the Global Learning Programme
  • Additional recognition of the Expert Centres' commitment to the Global Learning Programme.

Benefits for Partner Schools

How can Partner Schools benefit from members taking on the GLP LP accreditation?*

  • A quality mark of excellent practice and of the organisation’s commitment to professional learning and high quality status for high quality practitioners.
  • A professional development tool to identify and set professional targets.
  • Access to a wide range of resources, research and case studies that can be drawn on and shared to improve and develop practice.
  • Opportunities to engage with current regional, national and international developments through the wider network of the Global Learning Programme.
  • Recognition of your school’s commitment to the Global Learning Programme.

*Expert Centres will receive funding to cover the cost of the support that they are providing to their network of partner schools and for the GLP LP accreditation. Partner schools will not be funded for the GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation unless those schools become Expert Centres. However, partner schools can choose to purchase the accreditation through SSAT at a cost of £325 per application (excluding VAT).
Becoming a Lead Practitioner in Global Learning – what is involved?

The original SSAT LP skills and attributes relevant for effective learning practice were developed in consultation with education experts and agencies. These were then adapted specifically for the GLP in consultation with GL/ DE experts and organisations. Practitioners applying for GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation will be asked to provide evidence of meeting criteria that have been applied to each of these skills. The application process is online and easy to use. You can complete a simple initial self-assessment of your experience online when you register on the programme, then over a period of time, you can collect evidence to submit to be accredited. There are two opportunities to submit evidence every year, in June and November. The experience of leading practice can take place at a range of levels from working with just one other colleague through to working with larger groups in your own region or beyond. For the purposes of GLP Lead Practitioner accreditation, these levels are described as:

Level / Scope
Beginning
Developing
Extending
Transforming & leading / With another colleague
With your team
Beyond your team
Regional, national and international

The ten key GLP Lead Practitioner skills have been grouped into three sections. Each of these ten skills has four criteria, one for each level: beginning, developing, extending and transforming & leading.To gain Lead Practitioner accreditation you need to provide evidence that you are working at the extending and/or transforming & leading level for at least seven of the ten skills as follows:

  • Professional:three out of four
  • Personal:two out of three
  • Process: two out of three

For further information, talk to your local advisor and / or got to the SSAT GLP Lead Practitioner website (

To apply to become a GLP Lead Practitioner please contact SSAT on .