National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)

There are five 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. (Click on the links below for further information).

• NPQ for Leading Teaching (NPQLT) - developing teachers who are subject leads or responsible for improving teaching practice in a subject or phase.
• NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC) - developing teachers who have responsibilities for leading behaviour and culture.
• NPQ for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) – supporting the training and development of others, including early career teachers.
• NPQ for Leading Literacy (NPQLL) - for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase
• NPQ for Leading Primary Maths (NPQLPM)  - for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading primary mathematics teaching across a school, key stage or phase.

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

• NPQ for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) - for 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 and maintained nurseries, or childminders with leadership responsibilities.
• NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) - for existing and aspiring leaders, who have cross-school responsibilities.
• NPQ for Headship (NPQH) - for both new and aspiring Headteachers. 
• NPQ for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) - for leaders who are, or who are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a Trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools.
• NPQ for SENCOs (NPQSENCO) - replacing the NASENCO award from Autumn 2024, for SENDCOs and other school leaders.

Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) - this is aimed at new headteachers taking the NPQH in their first five years of headship.

One to One Support Offer - Teach First is offering free one-to-one support on all of the NPQ programmes, for teachers and leaders working in schools and settings serving disadvantaged communities.  This free support comes in the form of an experienced former school leader who will coach and guide you throughout your NPQ. You can apply for this in your application with us and Teach First will allocate this support on a priority school basis.

The Department for Education previously funded NPQs for teachers in all state-funded schools (up to and including the 2023-24 academic year) but this funding was part of Covid recovery and has now ended. 

In Autumn 2024, FULLY FUNDED scholarship places will be available for all schools on NPQH, NPQLPM, NPQSENCO and for the EHCO. Funded places will be available on other NPQs, based on schools' pupil premium data, and we are currently awaiting a list of eligible schools from the DfE.

Further details about costs and scholarships will be made available as soon as possible.

1. Register for an NPQ on the DfE portal. (When completing this stage please ensure that you specify you wish to undertake the programme with the Leicester & Leicestershire Teaching School Hub & Teach First)

2. Complete our application form. (All applications will be screened to assess applicants’ suitability before being accepted onto a programme)

Guidance on completing your application, and the questions that will be asked, can be found in the application guidance PDF below (PLEASE READ before starting your application).