National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)

South Central Teaching School Hub are proud to offering the full range of new reformed NPQ courses with our Lead Providers

Teachers and leaders employed in all state funded schools, academies and colleges in England will be able to access a fully funded NPQ. The Department for Education announced back in 2021 an expanded funding eligibility criteria for NPQs to support teachers following the disruption to learning faced as a result of COVID-19.

  • All NPQ courses are fully funded by the DfE for any teacher or leader in any state funded school, academy or college.
  • Fully funded places on each NPQ course for this year are NOT limited to one place per school.

The specialist and leadership NPQs provide training and support for teachers and school leaders at all levels, from those who want to develop expertise in high-quality teaching practice, such as behaviour management, to those leading multiple schools across trusts. They are part of a wider set of teacher development reforms which together will create a ‘golden thread’ of high-quality evidence underpinning the support, training and development available through the entirety of a teacher’s career. NPQs have been designed with teachers and leaders in mind using the latest evidence and can be completed flexibly around existing commitments.

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.

Choosing Your NPQ

South Central TSH offer staff from BCP and Dorset schools a choice of NPQs from either the University College London Institute of Education (UCL IOE) or the Church of England (CofE).

NPQ applications are now OPEN for October 2023 courses for the following NPQs:
  • NPQ Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) 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 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 Headship (NPQH) those who are, or are aspiring to be, a Headteacher or Head of School with responsibility for leading a school. Additional support offer for the NPQ in Headship In addition to the reformed suite of NPQs, the department is introducing an additional support offer for new headteachers from autumn 2021. This is a targeted support package for teachers new to the role of headship.
  • 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.
  • 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.

How to Apply for a NPQ
  • Register for the course using the DfE’s NPQ Registration Service. As a part of this process they will be asked which Lead Provider they are selecting for their NPQ e.g. University College London Institute of Education or Church of England.
  • Once you have registered, you will contacted directly by your chosen provider to complete the application process
  • Your provider will confirm your place on your chosen NPQ course
NPQ Framework

If you have any questions, then please contact us.