NPQLBC Apprenticeship
Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship with NPQLBC
Designed to give learners all of the essential knowledge, skills and concepts that underpin successful leadership of culture and behaviour in a school.
At a glance
Course duration
12 Months
Face-to-Face Events
3
Access to cross-sector leadership resources & expertise
Monthly Coaching
Sessions
Programme cost
£0 with Apprenticeship Levy funding
What is the NPQLBC Apprenticeship?
The NPQLBC Apprenticeship is a dual award which has mapped the DfE's NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC) to the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship. This combination means learners concurrently earn two highly prestigious qualifications.
Learners gain specialised expertise in leading teaching from the NPQLBC. Simultaneously, the apprenticeship provides invaluable cross-sector insights and dedicated support, with practice-based learning ensuring new skills are embedded directly within their school.
Who is the NPQLBC Apprenticeship for?
The NPQLBC Apprenticeship is suitable for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school.
Leading behaviour and culture is complex and professionals looking to lead in this area need to have expertise across a number of specialist areas related to their role (e.g. behaviour systems) and in approaches that, through working with their colleagues, enable their school to keep improving (e.g. professional development and implementation).
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What are the benefits?
This dual-award programme bridges the gap between behavioral theory and daily practice. While the NPQLBC provides the evidence-informed framework for "what" a positive school culture looks like, focusing on high expectations and consistent system, and the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship provides the "how."
By embedding the NPQLBC into the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship, you move from simply understanding behavior to actively leading it. You will gain the communication techniques and conflict management skills needed to align your team with a unified vision. This partnership ensures that behavioral shifts aren't just ideas, but are sustained through project management tools and performance monitoring, creating a predictable, calm environment where both staff and pupils can thrive.
- Systemic Consistency: Use project management to ensure behavior policies are rolled out effectively across your team, ensuring "consistency" moves from a buzzword to a reality
- Evidence-Led Culture: Pair NPQLBC research on motivation with the ability to collate and interpret data to identify behavior trends and measure the impact of your interventions
- Leading Change with Empathy: Use Change Management principles to guide your team through new pastoral initiatives while maintaining morale
- Inclusive Leadership: Align the NPQLBC focus on pupil wellbeing with the Level 3 commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to ensure culture systems work for every child
Why should I undertake the dual award?
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Cross-sector learning
Candidates access cutting-edge theory, resources and delivery from thought leaders and leading practitioners from all sectors of the economy.
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Awards 30 Master's credits
Can be used as a springboard onto an MA in Educational Leadership with the University of Chester.
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Practice-based programme
Candidates undertake school-based activities and are assessed on how they apply learning in their day-to-day role, helping develop and refine organisational management and leadership skills.
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A wider view of leadership
Candidates apply cross-sector management and leadership practice to their school context providing greater challenge and a broader perspective to organisational improvement.
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Access to extra 1:1 coaching and content
Throughout the course you will have access to 1:1 coaching and teaching to help you succeed in the qualification.
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A personal experienced tutor to help you
An experienced tutor will help you throughout both the apprenticeship and the National Professional Qualification.
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Utilise levy funding
This professional development opportunity makes use of the apprenticeship levy and includes the DfE accredited NPQLBC at no additional cost.
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Chartered Management Institute
Eligibility to become a Chartered Member and Institute of Leadership and Management Member.
This programme focuses on the holistic development of the appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviours, designed in partnership with cross-sector industries, to ensure bespoke coverage of all the relevant requirements of leading and managing at a senior level at your setting.
The NPQLBC Apprenticeship makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of Face-to-Face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
Face-to-Face
Learners will attend 3 face-to-face events via the blended delivery model. Our nationwide delivery partnership network allows us to bring face-to-face training to a school near you and facilitated by local school leaders.
Online Learning
Participants access online learning and support via our virtual learning environment (VLE) BUD. Through BUD, participants are able to engage with their learning communities of peers and access multimedia content. They can also access research and expert-led school practice aligned to the curriculum content for the qualification, receive high-quality feedback from experienced performance coaches and submit work for assessment.
How do I access the funding?
The NPQLBC Apprenticeship can be funded through your school’s apprenticeship levy. Schools will be able to access the funding through their apprenticeship service (AS) account.
If your school needs help setting up your AS account, just let us know and we’ll guide you through it.
The NPQLBC Apprenticeship costs £5,000 from Apprenticeship Levy funds or co-investment for non-levy payers where the government pays 95%.
The level of funding depends on each candidate’s learning needs, with a maximum allocation of £5,000 to cover the cost of the apprenticeship.
What is the Apprenticeship Levy?
The levy is paid by large employers with a wage bill of over £3 million. These employers pay 0.5% of their total annual pay bill into the levy. Most state-maintained schools and multi-academy trusts pay into the levy.
The levy is designed to create long term sustainable funding for apprenticeships and to give employers more control to provide their staff with a range of training opportunities.
Apprenticeship funded training is designed for both new and existing staff members.
Applicants must have full support from their school/organisation. A head teacher, member of the SLT, line manager or Chair of Governors (or similar authoritative role) must confirm their support and that all information submitted is true and correct. This is a Department for Education mandatory requirement.
To apply, applicants must have the following:
- Teacher Reference Number - see TRN Support Guide
- 2 years teaching experience
- Leadership aspiration/experience
If you are unsure if you meet the above requirements or have other relevant experience then please contact our team who will be able to support your application.
How to apply
Click below to apply for the Spring 2026 Cohort.
Apply Now
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