NPQ Leadership Programmes - NPQSL, NPQH, NPQEL, NPQEYL

NPQSL is designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities. It’s ideal for those looking to progress into senior leadership and beyond and builds foundational knowledge to rapidly progress your school or trust’s key improvement priorities, all the while creating and embedding a culture that allows your staff and pupils to thrive.

Delivery

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. There are two cohorts annually, starting in Autumn and Spring.

This programme last for 18 months.

Assessment

The assessment process has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity for them to apply their knowledge.

To pass an NPQ, teachers will need to engage with at least 90% of the course and complete a final assessment.

Costs

Free funding plus additional payments to small schools is available. Please see the Funding Section 'Updated NPQ Scholarship Eligibility Criteria' above.

NPQH: Headship is 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). Participants will deliver meaningful change in their schools and join a network of like-minded leaders.

Delivery

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. There are two cohorts annually, starting in Autumn and Spring.

This programme last for 18 months.

We have an additional support offer for colleagues new to Headship within the NPQH programme. This slightly longer course provides access to free one-to-one support and coaching as well as ongoing support for the first year of headship. Eligibility criteria for this additional support offer:

• Working in the first 24 months of headship
• Employed by a state funded school in England (upon starting the training)
• Have either completed an NPQH before taking up your first post or are currently taking the NPQH
• Have not withdrawn from the additional support programme previously

Assessment

The assessment process has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity for them to apply their knowledge.

To pass an NPQ, teachers will need to engage with at least 90% of the course and complete a final assessment.

Costs

Free funding plus additional payments to small schools is available. Please see the Funding Section 'Updated NPQ Scholarship Eligibility Criteria' above.

The NPQEL: Executive Leadership programme is 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. This prestigious qualification will enable participants to take their career to the next level and specialist expertise in running a multi-school organisation. As well as one-to-one support and coaching participants will connect with, and learn from, other executive leaders in the field by joining a passionate network striving for educational equality.

Delivery

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. There are two cohorts annually, starting in Autumn and Spring.

This programme last for 18 months.

Assessment

The assessment process has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity for them to apply their knowledge.

To pass an NPQ, teachers will need to engage with at least 90% of the course and complete a final assessment.

Costs

Free funding plus additional payments to small schools is available. Please see the Funding Section 'Updated NPQ Scholarship Eligibility Criteria' above.

NPQEYL: Early Years Leadership has been developed to underpin and increase early years-specific pedagogical leadership in early years settings, strengthen staff pedagogy, and support children whose development has been impacted by the pandemic. 

The qualification will investigate early education and child development, with a focus on communication, language, and physical development as well as personal, social and emotional growth, in line with the EYSF reforms. The setting of strategic direction and organisational culture, as well as pedagogical leadership, including evidence-based learning will also be explored.  

NPQ for Early Years Leadership is 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 or maintained nurseries
• childminders with leadership responsibilities

The NPQ in Early Years Leadership, will support leaders to develop expertise in leading high-quality education and care, as well as in effective staff and organisational management, working with and through their colleagues so that every child gets the best start in life. 

Delivery

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. There are two cohorts annually, starting in Autumn and Spring.

This programme last for 18 months.

Assessment

The assessment process has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity for them to apply their knowledge.

To pass an NPQ, participants will need to engage with at least 90% of the course and complete a final assessment.

Costs

Free funding plus additional payments to small schools is available. Please see the Funding Section 'Updated NPQ Scholarship Eligibility Criteria' above.

In addition, Early years practitioners and leaders working in the following settings in England will be eligible for scholarship funding from the DfE for the NPQEYL only:

• childcare providers registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register, providing childcare on non-domestic premises.
• childcare providers registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register, providing childcare on domestic premises.
• childminders registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register.
• childminders registered with an Ofsted-registered childminder agency, caring for early years children.

Further information was released by the DfE 26/05/22 and can be read here.