NPQ Overview

Applications for Autumn 24 start NPQs open shortly. We will update this page once we have further information.

National Professional Qualifications are a set of prestigious qualifications, widely recognised by the sector. They are voluntary and are designed to support the professional development of teachers and school leaders at all levels, across primary and secondary schools. There are leadership NPQs and specialist NPQs - see the individual pages for a breakdown of each one to find the one suitable for you.

Eligibility

Check if you are eligible for the course

You should check the course eligibility criteria before you register. You may meet the funding criteria but not the course eligibility.

You can find out how to check the eligibility of your workplace for autumn 2024 when registration opens later this year.

Course Eligibility - please check the relevant NPQ on this website
Funding Eligibilty - to be confirmed by the DfE - we will update this page when we have further information.

Funding

Scholarship funding for Autumn 2024

The funding for NPQs from Autumn 2024 is changing.

Scholarships (fully funded) will continue to be available to all teachers and leaders from publicly funded schools and 16 to 19 educational organisations for the following NPQs:

Leading Primary Maths (LPM)
Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
Headship (H)

For the early headship coaching offer, funding to cover the course fees will be available if you are in your first 5 years of headship in England in a state-funded school or state-funded 16 to 19 organisation. You should also be doing or have done the Headship NPQ

For the remaining specialist and leadership NPQs, funding for Autumn 2024 will target those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities.

Scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost will be available to teachers and leaders from:

the 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding
16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage

For the early years leadership NPQ, highly disadvantaged early years settings will also be eligible.