National Professional Qualifications

Quick links - how to apply:

All NPQs remain fully funded for Academic year 2022/2023.

NPQ applications for cohorts 2a (October '22) and 2b (February '23) are now open!

The deadline for October '22 applications is the 25th July '22

The deadline for February '23 applications is the 25th November '22

Registration for funding on the DfE portal opened on the 1st June 2022 : Register for a National Professional Qualification (education.gov.uk)

Introduction to NPQs:

What are NPQs?

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are the most widely recognised qualifications in the education sector for current and aspiring leaders.

Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE), NPQs provide training and support for teachers and leaders at all levels. They will support you to develop the skills and knowledge to progress in your career and to support your school/setting.

Eligibility

From autumn 2022, the organisations eligible to access scholarships are:

state-funded schools
state-funded 16 to 19 organisations
independent special schools
virtual schools (local authority run organisations that support the education of children in care)
hospital schools not already included in other categories of eligible organisations
young offender institutions

Local authority employed supply teachers will also be able to access scholarships.

Training scholarships for the NPQ for Early Years Leadership are available to those leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification: who are, or are aspiring to be:

managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries
headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries
childminders with leadership responsibilities

And are employed:

in a maintained nursery school in England
in a pre-school class that’s part of a school in England
in a nursery that is registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register
as a childminder and registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register, or with a registered Childminder Agency

You do not need to have QTS to apply for an NPQ. You will need a TRN, CLICK HERE to find out how to apply.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub Offer

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub are offering the new suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are delighted to be working with Teach First to design, deliver and assess nine reformed NPQs. Below are links to each NPQ and how to apply for them.

Specialist NPQs

There are four specialist NPQs for teachers and school leaders who want to broaden their expertise in particular areas. The following programmes are for those who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject or year, leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school or leading the development of other teachers in their school.

NPQ in Early Years Leadership (New)

For leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a nursery manager, headteacher of a school-based or maintained nursery or childminder with leadership responsibilities.

NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) * NEW

Leadership NPQs

For those looking to progress into senior leadership and beyond, the following NPQs build foundational knowledge to rapidly progress a school or trust’s key improvement priorities – all while creating and embedding a culture that allows the school, staff and pupils to thrive:

*Early Headship Coaching Offer for New Headteachers

This is a targeted package of additional support tailored to the needs of headteachers new to the role of headship. It provides bespoke, un-assessed face-to-face support based on the best available evidence about what makes an effective headteacher.

Benefits for your school or Trust

Great development opportunities and ongoing support helps teachers thrive.
They keep talented teachers and leaders in your school or Trust for the long term, equipping them with the expertise to make a difference to their pupils.
NPQs support motivated teachers who want to take the next step on their leadership journey.
Teachers will develop core knowledge and skills to prepare them for the long-term, as well as gaining the tools, examples and practice to start having an immediate positive impact in their school.
Strategic improvement; focused on your context and pupils.
Part of a wider network of leaders and schools.

Programme overview

NPQ Programme Overview

NPQ programmes are based on the DfE’s NPQ frameworks, combining expert training with tailored support to strengthen leadership and culture in your school, Trust or setting.

Each programme includes:

Evidence-based online content to refresh and build knowledge
Formative assessment tasks to support learning
Face-to-face seminars with a group of peers, facilitated by an expert leader or provider Lead
The opportunity to record reflections and consolidate learning
School/trust visits* and conferences.

Programme Lengths:

PROGRAMME	Learning period (months)	Assessment period of up to (months)	Maximum total duration (months)
Specialist NPQs	12	3	15
NPQSL	18	3	21
NPQEYL	18	3	21
NPQH	18	3	21
Early Headship Coaching Offer	24	3	27
NPQEL	18	3	21

Assessment

The assessment process for all NPQs has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers, while still providing an opportunity to apply their knowledge. To pass the programme, programme members will need to engage with at least 90% of the course and pass one summative assessment in the form of a written case study. The case study will be based on an area covered in the programme.

The assessment takes place within three months of completing the NPQ programme, within a defined eight-day window. Detailed dates will be shared before the start of the programme. This is assessed by a DfE approved third party.

Cost and funding

All NPQs are now fully funded.

This funding is available in academic years 2022 - 2023 and 2023 - 2024.

As part of the government’s long-term education recovery plan, £184 million of new funding for NPQs was announced on the 12th October 2021 and reconfirmed in May 2022.

Targeted support funding for small schools

As part of the government’s long-term education recovery plan, it was announced in May 2022 that funding for fully funded NPQ training scholarships will be available in academic years 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024.

In addition to this, from autumn 2022, state-funded schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with 1 to 600 pupils will be paid £200 for each teacher or leader they employ who takes an NPQ (not including the Early Headship Coaching Offer).

Payments will be grant funded in arrears via existing Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA) channels the summer after NPQ participants begin their course. Eligibility for targeted support funding will be determined automatically as participants complete the registration process and there is no need to apply for this funding separately.

Actual Cost to Schools/Settings

Although the programme fees are being fully funded, there will be a cost to the school for time that staff need to complete their programme. This will depend on the provider and the type of programme.

NB: Access to funding remains conditional on successful validation of participants’ registration information against Teaching Regulation Agency records, so you must ensure that the information supplied to your NPQ provider matches your teacher record. You can check and update your record via the Teaching Regulation Agency’ Teacher Self-Service Portal .

Programme costs for information only

PROGRAMME	COST
Specialist NPQs	£840
NPQSL	£1,045
NPQEYL	£1,045
NPQH	£1,690
NPQEL	£3,245

Looking to join our team of NPQ facilitators?

We are looking for excellent and successful leaders with a good understanding of the latest evidence-based research into one or more of the following: effective pedagogical practices, effective behaviour management and leadership, effective teacher development or effective school leadership.

Please read the NPQ Facilitator Role Description at the bottom of this page and apply here to join the team.

NPQ Facilitator Role Description