What next for NPQs?

Top takeaways

The DfE is running a call for evidence on three of the current NPQ qualifications: 

• Headship (NPQH)
• Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
• Executive Leadership (NPQEL).

This is part of an ongoing review to ensure the NPQs are providing better training in four key areas: SEND, leadership progression, workload reduction, and operational leadership. 

Teacher Tapp’s report NPQs: Leadership Pathway or Passing Phase? shows how popular with the profession the NPQ qualifications have been, although take-up is likely to slow with the funding reduction. 

Call for evidence

The DfE call for evidence runs until 16 May 2025, focusing on: Headship (NPQH), Senior Leadership (NPQSL) and Executive Leadership (NPQEL).

They are seeking contributions from a range of stakeholders, including senior leaders in schools, to ensure that: 

• Frameworks and underpinning evidence are up to date
• Possible gaps are identified, explored and addressed
• Frameworks are fit for purpose for school leaders. 

The types of evidence being sought are systematic reviews, surveys and case studies, and review papers (see page 5 of the call for evidence document for detail) – rather than accounts from experience or other media. 

The DfE will launch a separate call for evidence later this year for the remaining NPQs.

Focus of the review

There are four areas of focus for the ongoing NPQ review:

• Best practice for teaching pupils with SEND
• Ensuring progression across the frameworks for different levels of leadership
• Addressing how leadership practices can support workload reduction
• Best practice in aspects of operational leadership, such as budget management and effective workforce deployment.

The review is being conducted in partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and is expected to take 18 months. 

Teacher experience of NPQs

Teacher Tapp surveyed its members in November 2024 regarding experiences and perceptions around NPQs, publishing their report NPQs: Leadership Pathway or Passing Phase? in March 2025. 

Popularity

• The report shows how many teachers have taken NPQs – as of November 2024, over half of all teachers have completed (or are currently completing) at least one NPQ.
• The most popular qualification was the senior leadership NPQ.
• Perceptions regarding the usefulness of NPQs are generally positive. The headship NPQ gets the most praise, with 75% of respondents saying it improved their leadership skills. 

Retention 

While access to NPQs and other qualifications is often seen as a retention boost, the survey showed that a commitment to teaching isn’t significantly different among those who engaged with NPQs. 

Teachers were no more likely to say they wanted to stay in teaching until retirement compared to those without. 

Take up and funding

• Demand for NPQs is slowing, with 51% of teachers who haven’t done an NPQ saying they don’t plan to do one in the next two years. 
• Of those who are interested, most would only do it if their school pays. Just 1% would be prepared to pay for it themselves. 

How likely are schools to fund NPQs for their staff? 72% of secondary and 64% of primary leaders say they'll fund NPQs on a case-by-case basis. That leaves quite a large proportion of schools who don’t think they’ll be funding NPQs. 

Questions for reflection and action

• Have you checked if your school is eligible for NPQ funding? If not, does your setting fund NPQs for staff? How does the decision process work? 
• Have you undertaken an NPQ? If so, do you feel it benefited your career, and how? 
• Are you considering an NPQ for the future? Is there a qualification relevant to your role? 
• Do you think a greater focus on areas such as workload reduction, operational leadership and staff deployment is a good idea? 

Reading and resources

• DfE: National professional qualifications framework review
• DfE: National Professional Qualifications (NPQs): call for evidence
• Call for evidence document: National Professional Qualifications framework review: call for evidence
• Need to Know: Is your school eligible for NPQ scholarship funding? 
• Schools Week: ECF and NPQ review: What you need to know
• Schools Week: DfE calls for evidence to aid NPQ review
• Teacher Tapp: NPQs: Leadership Pathway or Passing Phase?