GovWire

Choose an NPQ

Find out about NPQ courses and the early headship coaching offer.

If youre employed, talk to your workplace. You may need their approval to take an NPQ, and they may be able to help you choose a course thats suitable for you.

Some courses have specific eligibility requirements, so check youre eligible before you register.

Check if you can get funding

Most teachers and school leaders in state funded settings in England can get funding to cover the course fees.

Your workplace may also receive funding to support you to do your NPQ. This is called targeted support funding.

Learn about funding.

Find a training provider

If youre employed, ask your workplace if they already work with a particular training provider.

You can also find your local teaching school hub and ask them who provides your chosen NPQ in your area.

Most providers operate throughout England, but your NPQ will include some face-to-face sessions that you need to attend in person.

Youll need to have decided your preferred training provider when you register for your NPQ with the Department for Education (DfE).

Find out who provides NPQs:

• leading teacher development
• leading teaching?
• leading behaviour and culture?
• leading literacy
• leading primary mathematics
• senior leadership
• headship
• executive leadership
• early years leadership
• special educational needs and disabilities co-ordinators (SENCOs)

You should check that your chosen training provider operates in your area as there will be face-to-face sessions as part of your NPQ.

Register with DfE

You need to register with DfE for your NPQ or early headship coaching offer.

This is so that DfE can keep your professional record up to date, check and allocate funding, and issue NPQ certificates.

Even if youre not funded, you still need to register.

Apply through your provider

As well as registering with DfE, you also need to apply directly to your provider.

Your provider will send you an application form by email once youve registered with DfE. They will assess your eligibility for the course.

Start your NPQ

Once youve applied, your provider will keep you up to date about your course start date.

If you pass your NPQ, youll get a certificate which you can access through the teacher self-service portal.