National professional qualifications framework
Find out how to access national professional qualifications (NPQs) training and support for teachers and school leaders.
Applies to England
Accessing NPQ training and support
National professional qualification (NPQ) training and support is available to education professionals from all educational settings.
Education professionals employed in state-funded schools and organisations in England, that offer places for those aged 16 to 19, can access fully funded NPQs.
If you’re not eligible for scholarship funding, you can still undertake an NPQ and should contact your lead provider, local teaching school hub, or other delivery partners directly.
NPQ training and support available
NPQs are designed to provide training and support for education professionals at all levels and deliver improved outcomes for young people. They comprise of 4 leadership and 4 specialist NPQs.
Specialist NPQs
There are 4 specialist NPQs, for those who want to broaden their existing knowledge, expertise, and skills in specialist areas of an education professionals’ practice - both inside and outside of the classroom.
These specialist NPQs are:
- NPQ in Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
- NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)
- NPQ in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)
- NPQ in Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
Leadership NPQs
There are 4 leadership NPQs which help boost leaders’ existing knowledge and confidence as they progress into more senior roles.
These leadership NPQs are:
- NPQ in Headship (NPQH)
- NPQ in Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
- NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
- NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
When the framework expires
29 March 2028.
How to access NPQs
You can contact lead providers directly for more information about the courses they offer. You can also contact your teaching school hub, or other known delivery partners directly.
Lead provider websites:
- Ambition Institute
- Best Practice Network (home of Outstanding Leaders Partnership)
- Church of England
- Education Development Trust
- LLSE
- National Institute of Teaching
- Teacher Development Trust
- Teach First
- UCL Institute of Education
Each of the NPQ lead providers works with a network of delivery partners to deliver the training locally. Delivery partners include teaching school hubs, multi-academy trust, higher education institutions and other education organisations.
Providers of the reformed suite of NPQs will be subject to a quality assurance mechanism through Ofsted inspection to ensure the best support for schools and teachers.
Last updated 12 December 2022 + show all updates
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Updated to include information on 2 new NPQs which were added to the suite of NPQs in October 2022.
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First published.