National Professional Qualifications

Unlock your leadership potential and grow your career

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are the most widely recognised qualifications in the education sector for current and aspiring leaders. NPQs are open to all teachers and leaders in schools in England and Wales. They are fully funded by the DfE for all teachers working in state schools.

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Aldridge Education is working in collaboration with Teach First to lead the delivery of the NPQs in our region, delivering seminars and conferences; sharing guidance and support; and acting as your main point of contact for your NPQs.

NPQ courses we offer

There is a new suite of specialist NPQs for teachers and school leaders who want to broaden their expertise in particular areas. We currently offer the following programmes for those who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject or year; leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school; leading on whole school literacy or leading the development of other teachers in their school.

• NPQ in Leading Teaching (NPQLT)
• NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)
• NPQ in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)
• NPQ in Leading Literacy (NPQLL)

For those looking to progress into senior leadership and beyond, the Leadership NPQs build the foundation knowledge needed to rapidly progress a school or trust’s key improvement priorities while creating and embedding a culture that allows the school, its staff and pupils to thrive. We also currently offer:

• NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
• NPQ for Headship (NPQH)
• NPQ for SENCOs (launching in autumn 2024 and will be the mandatory qualification for SENCOs.)

If you are interested in any of our qualifications and would like to be kept informed, please submit an expression of interest form.

For more information on our programmes, please download the Aldridge Education NPQ brochure below.  

npq brochure may 2024 draft two.pdf

For the Autumn 2024 cohorts, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost will be available to just over 10,000 teachers and leaders nationwide. These individuals will be from:

• the 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding
• 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage

Scholarships will continue to be available to all teachers and leaders from publicly funded schools and 16 to 19 educational organisations for the following NPQs:

• NPQ for SENCOs 
• NPQ for headship (NPQH)

For the early headship coaching offer, funding to cover the course fees will be available if you are in your first 5 years of headship in England in a state-funded school or state-funded 16 to 19 organisation. You should also be doing or have done the headship NPQ.

For costs for other individuals, please find more information in our brochure (above).