National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
Leadership matters. Make a real impact with our NPQs, rated outstanding by Ofsted in all areas.
- Broaden and deepen expertise in your specialist area.
- Outstanding, evidence-led training designed by experts.
- Flexible training that fits around your schedule and prior knowledge.
- Join a passionate network striving for educational equality.
- Opportunities for free 1:1 support and coaching.
- DfE funding will target teachers and leaders serving schools in more deprived communities.
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Fulfil your potential. Invest in an NPQ today.
NPQs
What are NPQs?
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are the most widely recognised qualifications in the education sector for current and aspiring leaders.
Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE), NPQs provide training and support for teachers and leaders at all levels. From those who want to develop expertise in high-quality practice, such as behaviour management, to those leading multiple schools across trusts.
We’re delighted to be one of a select group of national providers to design, deliver and assess the full suite of NPQs. Our NPQs are rated outstanding by Ofsted.
What types of NPQs are there?
Broaden your expertise
There are five specialist NPQs for teachers and leaders who want to broaden their expertise in one of the following areas:
- NPQ in Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
- NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)
- NPQ in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)
- NPQ in Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
- NPQ in Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM)
Senior leadership and beyond
For those looking to deepen their knowledge in, or progress into senior leadership and beyond, the following NPQs build foundational knowledge to rapidly progress your setting’s or trust’s key improvement priorities – all while creating and embedding a culture that allows your staff and children to thrive:
- NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
- NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
- NPQ in Headship (NPQH)
- Early Headship Coaching Offer
- NPQ in Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
- NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (NPQ for SENCOs)
Please see the 'Our programmes' tab on this page for more detail on each NPQ.
What can NPQs do for your setting?
Our NPQs support teachers and other professionals who want to take the next step on their leadership journey and are motivated to make a difference in their setting.
Programme members will develop core knowledge and skills to prepare them for the long-term, as well as gaining the tools, examples and practice to start making a positive impact in their setting straight away. For example NPQ in Leading Literacy programme members will learn how to lead and develop an improvement strategy for literacy across the school.
How are Teach First NPQs delivered?
Building on our existing expertise in providing high-quality leadership training, our NPQ programmes are delivered in partnership with our delivery partners.
Delivery partners are teaching school hubs and multi-academy trusts based across the country, who work in partnership with us to deliver Teach First NPQs directly to programme members. This collaborative way of working allows us to access school-led experts in teacher and leadership training and development, from a wide range of backgrounds, to share collective experience and knowledge to help maximise the opportunities across our programmes.
Please see our full list of delivery partners here.
If you are a teaching school hub or multi-academy trust interested in becoming a Teach First delivery partner, please click here.
Interested in an NPQ?
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Need more information?
If you can’t find the information you need, please contact us.
Teach First is working with
over 7,000 school leaders
across the country, developing their expertise and impact
I’m so glad I did my NPQ with Teach First. Practical, research informed and manageable… The new NPQs look even better!
The NPQ has given me the space to recognise how I can develop, and the ability and the drive to want to do it as well.
Benefits
Broaden and deepen expertise in your specialist area
Boost your career with a highly respected NPQ. We’re one of the few organisations accredited to provide these nationally.
Our NPQs provide the opportunity to refresh and fill gaps in knowledge, allowing for different levels of prior experience. Each programme focuses on both the ‘how’ and the ‘what’ - we’ve designed the learning to be relevant and practical through the use of real-life examples, case studies and best practice from a range of contexts specific to your role and level.
Outstanding, evidence-led training designed by education experts and school leaders
Our high-quality leadership training is built around the latest research and best practice to make a real, long-term impact. Our NPQs are rated outstanding by Ofsted.
All our NPQs are focused on effective implementation. They’re designed with input from our delivery partners, subject and phase experts, and our alumni community to bring concrete school experience to our content. If you’re looking to take the next step in your career, our NPQs offer the specialist knowledge and expertise you need to make a real difference in your setting.
Strengthen leadership and culture in your setting
Our NPQs build leadership skills and capacity by equipping programme members to lead diverse and inclusive schools and educational settings. This is embedded across the programme learning, from developing staff to how you lead your curriculum.
We’ll help you identify how to support your pupils and staff so that you can tackle improvement priorities even more effectively. Each stage of our programmes is tailored to your setting’s individual needs and designed to address your daily challenges.
Flexible training that fits around your schedule and prior knowledge
Most of the NPQ learning opportunities can be accessed online – meaning you can fit the programme around your schedule at a pace that suits you. You will have the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge, prepare for the next stages and connect with other leaders on your programme. Our online resources and tools will help you reflect on and track your leadership development, all while tackling the issues impacting your setting.
This learning approach automatically tailors the curriculum to each programme member’s starting point, current context and workload, and ensures access to all. We’ll provide the opportunity to 'have a go' at applying learning throughout the programme in a manageable, bitesize way.
DfE funding targets teachers and leaders serving schools in more deprived communities
DfE scholarship funding will be available for the spring 2025 intake, targeting those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving schools in more deprived communities.
Full details on available funding can be found in the ‘Cost’ tab of each individual programme page, as well as the DfE funding page.
Free one-to-one support
If you work in a school serving deprived communities, you may also be eligible for Teach First’s free one-to-one support which runs alongside your NPQ of choice.
You’ll be supported by an experienced former school leader who will coach and guide you throughout your NPQ. You will be considered for this additional support when you apply for your programme.
Join a passionate network striving for educational equality
Share experiences with other education leaders, learn how they’ve faced similar challenges and build a professional network that will support you throughout your career.
Interested in an NPQ?
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Need more information?
If you can’t find the information you need, please contact us.
The support on the programme is fantastic and it works around our school schedule. There’s flexibility and a really good working understanding.
Of our programme members,
84%
said their NPQ had equipped them to better meet the demands of their role
Impact
Why does supporting school leadership matter?
Key facts:
- Around 850,000 young people are not benefiting from good or outstanding leadership, according to Ofsted.
- Effective leadership makes schools ten times more likely to improve at their next Ofsted inspection.
Why Teach First?
We’ve got a strong and proven track record in leadership development:
- For 20 years we've trained and developed more than 19,000 teachers and leaders, including 10,000 trainees on our teacher Training Programme, rated outstanding by Ofsted.
- Right now, Teach First is working with over 7,000 school leaders across the country, developing their expertise and impact in challenging environments.
- 97% of headteachers rated the quality of our Leading Together programme (which works with a school’s senior leadership team) as good or very good.
Why choose a Teach First NPQ?
We’ve been an accredited NPQ provider for several years with excellent feedback from programme members:
- Our NPQs are rated outstanding by Ofsted and we deliver our programmes to over 7,000 teachers every year.
- 99% of surveyed Teach First programme members were satisfied with their NPQ.
- 90% of our Leadership NPQ alumni said they can now implement improvements in their school.
- 96% of our programme members rated their one-to-one support from us as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
- 92% felt the NPQ conferences were effective, or very effective at building their knowledge and equipping them to be a school leader.
- 89% of those undertaking a Leadership NPQ felt the programme was effective or very effective at preparing them for further leadership.
- 84% said the NPQ had equipped them to better meet the demands of their current role.
Interested in an NPQ?
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Need more information?
If you can’t find the information you need, please contact us.
I’ve chosen to do my NPQH with Teach First because I looked round at a great number of providers and I wanted to know that I was getting involved with an organisation that shared my ideals.
99% of our programme members
were satisfied with their NPQ.
Eligibility
Am I eligible to apply for an NPQ?
To apply for an NPQ, applicants must have:
- full support from their school/organisation, as confirmed via a written agreement.
- Teacher Reference Number (TRN)
- Relevant experience, as detailed under the 'Our Programmes' section of the website.
Is my school or organisation eligible for funding?
You may be able to get your NPQ course fees paid for by the Department for Education (DfE). This is called scholarship funding. You do not need to apply for it.
When you register for an NPQ, the DfE will tell you if you are eligible for funding.
Scholarship funding
For spring 2025, the funding prioritises teachers and leaders working in the most challenging schools or educational settings, particularly those serving more disadvantaged communities.
Here are the details:
- The DfE have capped the number of funded places, meaning there is a limited number available for this cohort.
- All state schools will be eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQ in Headship, NPQ for SENCOs and NPQ in Leading Primary Mathematics.
- For all other NPQs, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible for fully funded places, as well as early years and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage.
The costs for someone who is not accessing a funded place are:
| NPQ | Cost |
| NPQLBC, NPQLT, NPQLTD, NPQLL, NPQLPM (Specialist NPQs) | £899 plus VAT |
| NPQSL and NPQEYL | £1,090 plus VAT |
| NPQ for SENCOs | £1,265 plus VAT |
| NPQH | £1,885 plus VAT |
| NPQEL | £3,890 plus VAT |
| EHCO | £800 plus VAT |
Interested in an NPQ?
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Need more information?
If you can’t find the information you need, please contact us.
Our programmes
Whatever stage you’re at on your leadership journey, our range of NPQs can offer the knowledge and expertise you need to make a real difference in your setting. Our training is rated outstanding by Ofsted.
NPQ in Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a specialist in areas related to your role, including by subject and phase (with content such as how to sequence a curriculum and plan effective assessment)
- work with serving school leaders and subject matter experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
- access a blended learning programme that is full of practical and tangible examples, flexible and tailored to your needs and areas of development and focus
Who's it for?
Teachers and leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject or year. For example, head of subject, key stage head or head of department.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a specialist in areas related to your role, including behaviour, school culture and developing others
- work with serving school leaders and subject matter experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
- access a blended learning programme that is full of practical and tangible examples, flexible and tailored to your needs and areas of development and setting focus
Who's it for?
Teachers and leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school. For example, head of year or roles with other pastoral responsibilities.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a specialist in areas related to your role, including designing and delivering continual professional development (CPD) to others across the school or setting you are in.
- work with serving school leaders and subject matter experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
- access a blended learning programme that is full of practical and tangible examples, flexible and tailored to your needs and areas of development and school focus
Who's it for?
Teachers and leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school, for example CPD lead or ITT lead.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Leading Literacy (NPQLL)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a specialist in areas related to your role, including leading literacy strategy and developing others.
- work with serving school leaders and subject matter experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
- access a blended learning programme that is full of practical and tangible examples, flexible and tailored to your needs and areas of development and school focus
Who's it for?
Teachers or leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM)
This programme will help you to:
develop as a specialist in areas related to your role, including leading mathematics across your key stage or school and developing others
work with serving school leaders and subject matter experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
access a blended learning programme that is full of practical and tangible examples, flexible and tailored to your needs and areas of development and school focus
Who's it for?
Teachers or leaders who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading mathematics across a school, year group, key stage or phase.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a leader with some areas of cross and whole school responsibility, or as a senior leader in your setting
- access content across a breadth of areas, such as teaching, behaviour and professional development
- be supported to effectively implement change and improvement in an area related to your role and context.
Who's it for?
Leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a leader with responsibility for early years education and care
- access content across a breadth of areas, such as teaching, behaviour and professional development
- be supported to effectively implement change and improvement in an area related to your role and context.
Who's it 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
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ in Headship (NPQH)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a leader with whole-school responsibility
- access content across a breadth of areas such as school culture, curriculum and assessment, and organisational management
- be supported to effectively implement change and improvement in an area you identify as a school priority
Who's it for?
School leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
Early Headship Coaching Offer
The Early Headship Coaching Offer is aimed at new headteachers taking the NPQH in their first five years of headship. It’s also suitable for a leader who has taken the NPQH before headship - as long as the coaching offer is taken up within five years of becoming a new headteacher.
You can request this additional support for free if you:
- work in a state-funded school
- are in your first five years of headship
- have previously done an NPQH / are applying for an NPQH / are currently doing an NPQH with us or another provider
NPQ in Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
This programme will help you to:
- develop as a leader with trust-level responsibility
- access content across a breadth of areas such as organisational management, working in partnership, and additional and special educational needs and disabilities
- effectively implement change and improvement in an area you identify as a trust priority
Who's it for?
Leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools.
Find out more about this programme and apply below:
NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (NPQ for SENCOs)
This programme will help you to:
- co-ordinate special educational needs provision throughout your school
- work alongside other leaders to build a school culture in which pupils with SEND can participate meaningfully in the full life of the school, achieve ambitious outcomes and make successful transitions to their next steps
- work with practising SENCOs and inclusion experts to turn new learning into changes in your own and others’ practice
Who’s it for?
This NPQ replaces the NASENCO qualification and is aimed at existing SENCOs, school leaders or those interested in developing expertise in SEND or becoming a SENCO in the future.
Interested in an NPQ?
Applications are now closed.
To hear more about the next cohort for NPQs, register your interest.
Need more information?
If you can’t find the information you need, please contact us.
Structured, detailed and very manageable... The support I received from [my Development Lead], was also terrific!
96% of our programme members
rated their one-to-one support from us as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Participants emerge with the confidence and knowledge to become highly impactful leaders and practitioners in schools and settings