National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
SFET Teaching School Hub is delighted to deliver all 10 specialist and leadership NPQs in partnership with STSN and Teach First. This partnership brings together the best local knowledge and context with the experience and programmes of Teach First.
Nationally, there is only one intake per year – registrations open 23rd June 2026.
Click here to be the first to hear when applications reopen for the 2026 cohort.
The DfE has announced the new scholarship funding criteria for Autumn 2026. Details can be found on GOV.UK. In summary:
- the NPQ for Headship and NPQ for SENCOs will continue to be fully funded, regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the NPQ for Senior Leadership will now be fully funded, regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the NPQ for Early Years Leadership will now be fully funded for participants working in Early Years settings regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the above arrangements apply to participants working in eligible educational settings
Funding for the Early Headship Coaching Offer will continue to be available if the participant is also:
- in the first 5 years of headship
- undertaking or has completed the NPQ for Headship
Scholarships for all other NPQs will continue to be based on disadvantage criteria.
- Schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible for fully funded places, as well as early years and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage. You can see if your school is eligible here
- Leading Teaching
- Leading Behaviour and Culture
- Leading Literacy
- Leading Primary Mathematics
- Leading Teacher Development
- Executive Leadership
The total amount of scholarship funding available is limited.
Register your interest – to be the first to hear when our application window opens, please register your interest here.
We look forward to supporting you with your leadership development.
Details can be found at: Funding for national professional qualifications (NPQs) - GOV.UK.
If you are a teacher or leader who wants to develop further knowledge and skills in school leadership and specialist areas of teaching practice, underpinned by the latest evidence then click here to register your interest in one of our NPQs.
The NPQs are in important aspect of the government's golden thread of teacher and leader development:
How are NPQs Delivered?
All NPQs are taught through a blended balance of online individual learning, online seminars and face-to-face meetings and a simplified end-of-course assessment.
We currently have over 1500 teachers and leaders participating across all NPQs and making a positive impact on children's outcomes straight away. Join them by applying for our next cohorts here.
Our NPQs support teachers and leaders who want to take the next step on their leadership journey and are motivated to make a difference in their school. Participants will develop core knowledge and skills to prepare them for the long term, as well as gaining the tools, examples and practice to start making a positive impact in their school straight away.
Our programmes are underpinned by some key factors:
- High-quality, evidence-led training designed by experts
- Strengthening leadership and culture in your school
- Broadening and deepening expertise in your specialist area
- Flexible training that fits around your schedule and prior knowledge
- Free one-to-one support and coaching
- Joining a passionate network striving for educational equality
Specialist and Leadership NPQs
Specialist NPQs cover:
- National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD): Supporting the training and development of others, including early career teachers.
- National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT): Developing teachers who are subject leads or responsible for improving teaching practice in a subject or phase.
- National Professional Qualification for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC): Developing teachers who have responsibilities for leading behaviour and culture.
- National Professional Qualification in Leading Literacy (NPQLL): Developing 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 Primary teachers and leaders with responsibility for leading mathematics across a key-stage or school, or those who want to have this responsibility.
Leadership NPQs cover:
- National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL): Supporting EY leaders to develop expertise in leading high-quality education and care, so that every child gets the best start in life.
- National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL): designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.
- National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH): for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school (including a new programme of support for newly appointed Headteachers).
- National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership (NPQEL): designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools.
- National Professional Qualification for SENCOs (NPQSENCO): The leadership level national professional qualification for SENCOs became the mandatory qualification for SENCOs from September 2024, replacing the NASENCO qualification. This NPQ is mandatory for SENCOs but also suitable for school leaders and teachers interested in developing expertise in SEND or undertaking a SENCO role in future.