South Central Teaching School Hub are proud to offer NPQ courses to schools in partnership with University College London Institute of Education (UCL IOE).
NPQ Information for 2026/2027 Academic Year
Applications for 2026/2027 are NOW OPEN.
How to Apply for a NPQ
To complete your NPQ with us at South Central TSH:
- Visit the DfE registration Portal to register for your chosen NPQ
- Select University College London IOE as your Lead Provider
- Select South Central TSH as your Delivery Partner
- UCL IOE will then contact you for further details to complete your application
Fully Funded NPQs
The DfE have announced for Autumn 2026 Cohort that the following NPQs are FREE for staff from all state funded schools or as stated below. Please note that the number of funded places will be capped by the DfE and allocated on a first come first served basis.
- Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) Available if the participant is in the first 5 years of Headship and undertaking or completed the NPQ for Headship. for Headteachers who are in their first five years of Headship. This will provide ongoing professional development in becoming an effective headteacher.
- NPQ Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) FREE for those in state funded Early Years settings. for leaders who are or aspiring to be managers of Private, Voluntary and Independent nurseries, Headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries, or childminders with leadership responsibilities.
- NPQ Headship (NPQH) those who are, or are aspiring to be, a Headteacher or Head of School with responsibility for leading a school.
- NPQ for Special Needs Co-ordinators (NPQSENCO) for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs), teachers interested in developing expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or undertaking a SENCO role in future and school leaders.
- NPQ Senior Leadership (NPQSL) for teachers who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.
Funding for Other NPQs
All other NPQs are available to apply for and are FREE for staff from state funded schools with the highest 50% for Pupil Premium (PP50). These also have a limited number of funded places available.
The list of PP50 eligible schools is available here .
Schools who are not eligible for funded places can pay for staff to join an NPQ course; details of fees are here
- NPQ Executive Leadership (NPQEL) for those who are, or are aspiring to be, and executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools.
- NPQ Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC) for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school.
- NPQ 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.
- National Professional Qualification in Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM) for teachers who are, or are aspiring to be, leaders with responsibility for leading maths across a primary key-stage or school.
- NPQ Leading Teaching (NPQLT) for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
- NPQ Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school. This may be responsibility for the development of all teachers across a school or specifically trainees or ECTs.
It’s that simple!
NPQ Framework
All NPQs are underpinned by a new content framework, setting out what participants should know and be able to do after completing an NPQ. You can access the content frameworks NPQs at National professional qualification frameworks.
South Central TSH provides NPQs to BCP and Dorset schools in partnership with University College London Institute of Education (UCL IOE)
If you have any questions, then please CONTACT US.
