The leadership mentor is a participant’s main point of contact for the duration of the NPQLT. Their role is to support a participant's progress and development through the programme. They will respond to practice task activities completed for each online course and provide challenge and feedback on each of the formative assessment tasks following their completion. At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school.

The in-school performance coach, nominated by the participant’s school, will offer support, guidance and challenge to a participant through six planned coaching sessions. They will provide feedback following their completion of formative assessment tasks and monitor and support participant progress through the programme. At the end of the programme, in conjunction with their mentor and in-school performance coach, participants will evaluate the impact of the programme on their leadership development and the benefits to their school. See the In-School Performance Coach guide for more information.

The National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT) costs £895 plus VAT if applicable.

• VAT will not be applied to DfE funded candidates or state-funded schools
• Candidates from international schools should visit our NPQLT international page

Scholarships

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.

State-funded schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with 1 to 600 pupils will be paid £200 for each teacher or leader they employ who takes an NPQ.

• Help teachers and leaders in smaller settings who may find it harder to engage with professional development.
• Applies to state-funded schools & 16 to 19 educational settings in England that have 1 - 600 pupils.
• Funding is not available for participants taking the early headship coaching offer unless they are 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 a list of 16 to 19 organisations eligible for targeted support funding in the academic year 2022 to 2023.
• Payments will be grant funded in arrears via existing Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA) channels the summer after NPQ participants begin their course. Eligibility for targeted support funding will be determined automatically as participants complete the registration process and there is no need to apply for this funding separately.

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.

Best Practice Network require that applicants should also be able to demonstrate:

• QTS and/or QTLS and/or a Level 5 (or higher) qualification in any subject, and/or an international equivalent
• Either 2 full years’ experience of teaching following achieving QTS/QTLS
  or
• 2 full years’ experience in current role following completion of Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification if in a non-teaching/pastoral role
• Aspiration / have responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase
• If you would like to discuss the above criteria or believe you are suitable but do not suit all criteria, please do contact us at NPQ@bestpracticenet.co.uk

The DfE’s NPQLT framework is based on a robust method of design and development, building on the evidence base and expert guidance already established in the ECF and the ITT Core Content Framework. The NPQ frameworks reflect the Teachers’ Standards and Headteachers' Standards to ensure coherency with the requirements already used by the teaching profession.

Please see the NPQLT Framework below. If your computer or device does not support the Adobe plugin you can download the framework pdf here.