NPQ in Senior Leadership
Become a confident senior school leader.
Applications are now open.
Register by 9 October for the best chance of a funded
NPQ place.
- Grow your expertise in whole-school leadership.
- Create a culture where all pupils can succeed .
- Lead impactful change across your school.
- Join a passionate network striving for educational equality.
Why choose the NPQSL with Teach First?
For over 20 years, Teach First has trained teachers and leaders to raise outcomes in disadvantaged communities. We’re one of England’s largest NPQ providers and rated outstanding by Ofsted for our leadership development.
The NPQ in Senior Leadership is for teachers who are, or want to be, senior leaders with cross-school responsibilities. It will help you:
- Strengthen your leadership practice to drive school-wide improvement
- Build a positive school culture where staff and pupils succeed
- Lead strategic change using evidence-informed approaches
If you work in a school serving disadvantaged communities, you may also be eligible for free one-to-one coaching from a former senior leader to support you throughout the programme.
Applications are now open.
Register by 9 October for the best chance of a funded NPQ place.
Programme overview
Duration
18 months (+ assessment period)
Who is it for?
Teachers who are, or aspire to be, senior leaders with cross-school responsibilities
Fees and funding
Fully funded places available (subject to eligibility)
Self funded: £1090 + VAT
Delivery
Blended learning: online modules, online seminars, in-person conferences
Start date
Future start date to be confirmed
Your questions about the NPQ in Senior Leadership
- What will I learn on this programme?
You’ll learn how to lead effective whole-school change, support colleagues and drive improvement across key areas like curriculum, behaviour and staff development.
Modules include:
- School/trust culture
- Implementation
- Governance and accountability
- Organisational management
- Behaviour
- Teaching
- Curriculum and assessment
- Additional special educational needs and disabilities
- Professional development
- Working in partnership
- Can I get a funded place?
For Autumn 2026, the DfE has confirmed that the NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) will be fully funded for eligible teachers and leaders working in publicly funded schools and 16-19 educational settings in England.
You do not need to apply separately for funding. When registering for an NPQ, the Department for Education (DfE) will confirm funding eligibility.
- What if I’m not eligible?
You can still apply and self-fund.
Cost for NPQ in Senior Leadership: £1,090 + VAT- How do I apply for the NPQSL?
To apply, you’ll need:
- Full support from your school or organisation (confirmed in writing)
- A valid Teacher Reference Number (TRN)
Getting started is easy:
Register with the Department for Education, then complete your application with help from your chosen delivery partner.- How am I assessed?
To successfully complete the NPQ, you’ll need to engage with at least 90% of the course and pass one summative assessment. This involves submitting a written response (up to 1,500 words) to a case study based on a realistic leadership scenario relevant to your NPQ. The assessment is completed using an open-book approach, allowing you to refer back to course materials as you apply your learning and demonstrate your understanding of the NPQ framework in practice.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? View our full NPQ FAQs
Designed by experts. Delivered locally.
Our programme is built by in our in-house experts and delivered through trusted regional partners. Our delivery partners tailor the learning to your local context, ensuring it’s relevant, practical and impactful.
Each programme fosters rich professional networks that enable participants to hone their professional practice.
Applications are now open
Register by 9 October for the best chance of a funded NPQ place.