Funding For NPQs

Staff in state-funded schools in England are now eligible for full scholarship funding* for all of the fully reformed and updated National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). That means government will fully cover all course fees*, with schools now having to focus only on providing the right support and time for colleagues to engage in study.

This is a major new piece of support from the government and gives schools a significant new source of funding for high quality training.

Here's summary of the funding information, correct as of 13 Sept 2023 - please check the DfE website for up-to-date guidance and conditions of funding.

Eligibility for scholarship funding

Scholarship funding is available for most NPQs if you’re a teacher or leader employed by:

state-funded schools
state-funded 16 to 19 organisations
independent special schools
virtual schools (organisations run by local authorities that support the education of children in care)
hospital schools
young offender institutions

It’s also available for practising teachers employed by local authorities, such as local authority supply teachers.

You do not need to apply for funding. When you register with the DfE for an NPQ, you’ll be notified of your funding eligibility.

Restrictions to eligibility

You’re only eligible for funding for each NPQ once.

If you receive scholarship funding for an NPQ but then withdraw from or fail your programme, you will not be eligible for scholarship funding for the same NPQ in the future.

Legacy NPQs

If you received scholarship funding for a legacy NPQ (before November 2021) and withdrew from the programme, you’re still eligible for scholarship funding for the current NPQs.

Targeted support funding

Targeted support funding is available for some schools. This money goes directly to schools to support participants to do an NPQ. It’s not available for the early headship coaching offer.

State-funded primary schools with 1 to 150 pupils

Your school will receive a grant payment of £800 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

State-funded primary schools with more than 150 pupils

Your school will receive a grant payment of £200 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

Search the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database to check how many pupils are recorded for your school.

State-funded secondary schools with 1 to 600 pupils

Your school will receive a grant payment of £200 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

State-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with 1 to 600 pupils

Your workplace will receive a grant payment of £200 for each teacher or leader you employ who starts an NPQ in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

Check the list of 16 to 19 organisations eligible for targeted support funding.

Refer to the targeted support funding grant conditions for more information.

‘Full and relevant qualifications’ are defined as qualifications that demonstrate depth and level of learning appropriate to specified outcomes of full early years, childcare or playwork qualifications. The qualification should have valid, reliable assessment and awarding procedures and must include an element of assessed performance evidence. ↩