Over the summer holidays, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the national professional qualification for headship (NPQH) and the national professional qualification for special educational needs coordinator (NPQSENCO) would be fully funded for interested and eligible teachers this year.
However, this scholarship funding is only available for autumn’s intake, which is the only intake of 2025/26 and begins this November. So, if you’re an aspiring headteacher or SENCO now is the time to apply to complete your NPQ, as this funding may not be available for 2026/27.
As the DfE’s Teaching School Hub (TSH) for Liverpool and the Wirral, we’ve supported more than 591 teachers to complete NPQs since our inception in 2021. What’s more, we partner with University College London (UCL) to deliver our suite of NPQs, which has been ranked number one by QS World University Rankings for education and training for 12 consecutive years.
We currently offer six NPQs, including the NPQH and NPQSENCO, and both programmes have been designed by UCL, with input from our team of education experts to be:
- Relevant – all content is drawn from current practice and expert theory
- Sequenced – we follow a spiral, inquiry-based approach that builds on prior knowledge
- Practical – learning is embedded in practice, it is not an additional burden
Both our NPQH and NPQSENCO include a mix of face-to-face events, mentoring and coaching, and self-directed learning, plus an implementation project which is a unique part of UCL’s programme. This project sees participants demonstrate how their learning has been put into practice during the course of 18 months.
If you’re a teacher and unsure whether or not to complete an NPQ or you’re a school leader weighing up the pros and cons of releasing members of staff to complete their NPQ, here are four reasons why NPQs are beneficial to teachers continuing their professional journey and for schools in achieving their wider goals.
- Expertise that has immediate impact
As mentioned above, NPQ participants gain evidence-based strategies that are embedded in practice, meaning learning can be applied immediately. Thus, improving their own practice, whilst ensuring better outcomes for pupils across school or phases.
- Leadership at every level
NPQs provide a structured pathway into leadership for participants and give schools increased options for succession planning.
- Professional confidence
NPQs are, in their very nature, designed to create professionally confident teachers and leaders who have been encouraged to reflect and collaborate with peers. By developing these skills, teachers become much more adept at contributing during the likes of staff training and inset days.
- Motivation and retention
Participants who complete an NPQ with the backing of their school, go on to have increased job satisfaction and schools, subsequently, witness increased long-term retention.
If you’d like to complete your NPQH or NPQSENCO this year, register now by clicking here and select UCL along with Inspire Learning TSH as your chosen organisations.