Why should I do an NPQ?
The National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are nationally recognised qualifications primarily for teachers and school leaders, with the exception of the NPQ in Leading Behaviour & Culture and the NPQ in Early Years Leadership
- The NPQLBC is suitable for teachers and leaders but is also available for school staff who are responsible for Behaviour & Wellbeing, but who do not hold QTS.
- The NPQEYL is for teachers and leaders who run, or aspire to run, an Early Years provision, either within a school or as a nursery; but is also suitable for childminders who have, or aspire to have, leadership responsibilities.
By completing an NPQ you will:
- Gain a DfE accredited, nationally recognised qualification
- Learn from the best evidence based practice
- Transfer learning into action with intentional outcomes
- Be part of a local network of peers in addition to learning from the experienced leaders facilitating the programme
Funding
Teachers and leaders employed in state-funded schools and state funded organisations, including those that offer 16-19 places in England, are able to access NPQ Scholarship Funding for 2023/24.
Further details:
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The scholarship criteria has expanded to include in independent special schools, the PVI sector for the Early Years Leadership NPQ, as well as hospital schools, virtual schools and young offender institutions.
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The rebranding of the Additional Support Offer as the Early Headship Coaching Offer, and an expansion of the eligibility criteria to participants within their first five years of headship.
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The introduction of the Targeted Support Fund to stimulate further NPQ uptake in small primary, secondary and 16-18 institutions including additional funding for schools.
DID YOU KNOW?
- For 2023-24, for each teacher or leader they employ who takes an NPQ, the DfE will also provide:
- state-funded primary schools with fewer than 150 pupils with a grant payment of £800.
- state-funded primary schools with more than 150 pupils with a grant payment of £200.
- state-funded secondary schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with 1 to 600 pupils with a grant payment of £200.
More information about the ‘Targeted support funding’ can be found here.
The newly reformed suite of NPQs
As part of the DfE's commitment to the 'Golden Thread' of programmes, NPQs were relaunched in Autumn 2021 and look a little different. The changes to NPQs build on the evidence and expert advice already established in the Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework.
The big change was the disappearance of the NPQ in Middle Leadership (NPQML), and the emergence of a suite of Specialist NPQs.
Whilst the Leadership NPQs still exist, they have all been rewritten and refreshed.
Assessment has also changed, in an attempt to reduce the workload burden on teachers and school leaders. There will no longer be an in-school project. Instead participants will be given a case study with supporting documentation, to be completed during an eight day set window. This assessment will also be shorter at 1,500 words instead of 4-5,000.
Local Choice
As a Teaching School Hub serving a diverse range of schools, we believe that a 'one size fits all' approach isn't the the best choice for our region. We listened to all NPQ Lead Providers, and carefully selected those who closely matched our shared ethos and values. We are proudly working in partnership with both the Church of England/ Catholic Education Service and The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT).
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