Specialist National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
A suite of four specialist NPQs that target a specific area of school development that needs its own leadership and direction.
✓ Full scholarships available
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At a glance
Course duration
12 Months
Master's Credits
30
Face-to-face Events
2 - 3
Intakes
Spring/Autumn
Delivery
Nationwide
Funding
Fully funded by DfE
Why complete a Specialist NPQ?
The suite of four specialist NPQs each target a specific area of school development that needs its own leadership and direction. Giving each area its own programme allows you to gain the knowledge and skills needed in order to have a real lasting impact on these important school areas.
Who should apply?
Anyone with a burning passion for one of the four specialist areas wishing to expand their knowledge and understanding should look to apply. This includes experienced leaders in senior positions and those who already hold specialist area positions. Each programme gives these leaders the depth in understanding needed to improve school and pupil outcomes.
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This programme is ideal for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school.
This programme is ideal for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key or phase.
This programme is ideal for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and culture and/or supporting pupil well-being in their school.
This programme is ideal for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase.
View our Specialist NPQ guide
Scholarships
Full NPQ scholarships, covering the entire cost of the qualification, are available for all colleagues working in state-funded schools, across all phases. As well as state-funded schools, all state-funded organisations that offer 16 to 19 places in England are eligible for full NPQ scholarships.
There is no limit to how many scholarships a single school can receive but please bear in mind that NPQ participants will attend face-to-face events during term time as part of the course. Online-only NPQ delivery is available to candidates on request.
Scholarships have been confirmed for the Autumn NPQ intake as part of the government’s long-term education recovery plan.
From autumn 2022, organisations eligible to access scholarships include:
- State-funded schools
- State-funded 16 to 19 organisations
- Independent special schools
- Virtual schools (local authority run organisations that support the education of children in care)
- Hospital schools not already included in other categories of eligible organisations
- Young offender institutions
Local authority employed supply teachers will also be able to access scholarships.
Targeted Support funding
The department has updated the Targeted Support Fund offer for the 2023 to 2024 academic year to further incentivise state-funded schools and state-funded 16-19 educational settings in England to participate in NPQs.
For each teacher or leader they employ who takes an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year:
- State-funded primary schools with one to 150 pupils will receive a grant payment of £800
- State-funded primary schools with more than 150 pupils will recieve a grant payment of £200
- State-funded secondary schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with one to 600 pupils will recieve a grant payment of £200
Targeted support funding is not available for participants taking the Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) unless they're also taking another NPQ course.
If you work in a school, you can search the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database to check how many pupils are recorded for your school.
If you work in a 16 to 19 education setting, you can check the list of 16 to 19 organisations eligible for targeted support funding in the academic year 2023 to 2024.