The National Professional Qualifications Programmes

The National Professional Qualifications are a suite of Government-accredited qualifications designed for school leaders.

At Forward as One, we offer 9 different National Professional Qualifications that are built on leading research, helping you to transform both your local provision and the wider educational community.

What is a National Professional Qualification?

A National Professional Qualification (NPQ) is an accredited qualification by the Department for Education (DfE) that is designed to support professional development in teachers and leaders across England.

The qualifications are voluntary and are designed to enhance teaching professionals’ expertise in various aspects of teaching and leadership. NPQ courses are designed to refresh and fill gaps in knowledge, making them ideal for teachers and leaders from all walks of life.

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What are the different types of NPQs?

At Forward as One, partnered with Ambition Institute, we offer a total of four leadership programmes and five specialist programmes.

Our Leadership NPQs

NPQ for Headship- For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a Headteacher. With NPQH, you will develop the knowledge that underpins expect school leadership and apply it to become an outstanding headteacher.
NPQ for Senior Leadership- For school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with whole school responsibilities. Develop your leadership knowledge and expertise to improve outcomes for teachers and pupils in your school with NPQSL.
NPQ for Early Years Leadership- For school leaders who are, or aspiring to be, a senior leader of early years in school. Become an early years expert and help to give all children up to the age of five the best possible start in life with NPQEYL.
NPQ for SENCOs- Become an expert leader of special educational needs and learn how you can build an inclusive culture in your school with NPQSENCO.

Our Specialist NPQs:

NPQ Leading Teaching- For current or aspiring middle leaders in a phase, key stage or subject and senior leaders. Learn what outstanding teaching looks like and use this knowledge to become a high-performing leader of teaching with with NPQLT.
NPQ for Leading Teacher Development- For those who lead the professional development of other teachers. Become an expert teacher educator and learn how to successfully support your teachers to improve their own practice through carefully sequenced professional development with NPQLTD.
NPQ for Leading Behaviour Culture- For those who lead on behaviour and supporting pupil wellbeing in your school. Gain expertise in behaviour management and discover how to create a culture where staff and pupils can thrive with NPQLBC.
NPQ for Leading Literacy- For those who lead, or are aspiring to lead, on literacy in any phase of education. You'll become an expert leader of literacy and learn its importance in enabling young people to reach their full potential with NPQLL.
NPQ for Leading Primary Mathematics- For those who lead on teaching maths in primary schools. Become an expert leader of primary mathematics and learn how to embed high-quality mastery approaches to maths teaching in your school with NPQLPM.

Choosing the right NPQ for you

To choose the right NPQ, it’s important you consider your current role, career goals and your specific areas of interest.

If you’re an aspiring leader or looking to broaden your leadership skills, then choosing an NPQ in leadership, such as Headship or Senior Leadership, may be a good choice for you. Whereas, if you’re looking to deepen your expertise in a specific area, like Maths or English, then a subject-specific specialist NPQ could be the right choice.

You may also want to consider your career goals. If you’re aiming for a promotion or a specific leadership role, then you should choose an NPQ that aligns with those specific goals.

Get in touch with our team for more information

How long do NPQ courses last?

NPQ course in England typically lasts between 12-22 months, including assessment, depending on what course you choose.

Our longest NPQ courses are in leadership, with each course lasting 18 months, including the assessment window. All our Specialist NPQ courses are 12 months long.

Paying for your NPQ

Whether you need to pay for your NPQ depends on your school’s eligibility for government funding.

The government does offer fully funded NPQ places for teachers and leaders employed by state-funded schools. Other education organisations, such as those for 16–19-year-olds, may also qualify for certain funding, but this is something you will have to research first before you apply.

If your school or organisation does not qualify for funding, you will need to pay for the NPQ yourself. This will usually be invoiced to you or your school.

You can head over to the government website to find out you’re eligible for NPQ funding.

How to apply for an NPQ

Applying for an NPQ is easy, but it does require a bit of your time to complete. Listed below are the steps you should always take while applying for an NPQ:

Check your eligibility- To avoid any disappointment, you should always check that your current role and experience are suitable for your chosen NPQ. At this point, you should also check whether you are eligible for funding or if you need to pay for the course yourself.
Notify your school- Some of the sessions in the NPQ courses will happen during the school day, meaning you will need time off your school timetable. To make sure you can attend these sessions, it’s always best to let your school know you’re planning on doing an NPQ.
Create your account on Ambition- Forward as One are a proud delivery partner of Ambition Institute. Their programmes are created from rigorous research and evidence about what truly works in education, helping their NPQ participants to become outstanding leaders.

Head over to Ambition’s website today to create your own My Ambition account. This should only take you around 15 minutes to complete.
Choose your delivery partner- With the support from Ambition, our NPQ programmes are designed to align with the needs of schools and trusts, while still fostering a shared understanding and language around leadership and teaching practices.

While we are rooted in Christian values, our NPQ programmes are always designed to be inclusive and beneficial to all schools, regardless of their religious affiliations.

If the application window is not open, or you’re still considering whether an NPQ is right for you, register your interest with us today.

Interested in becoming a Visiting Fellow?

To apply to be a Visiting Fellow, or to enquire about the role and responsibility of being a Visiting Fellow, please contact us using this online form or scan the QR code: