The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that scholarship funding for the Spring (April) 2025 cohort will follow the same format as the Autumn 2024 cohort. This funding aims to support teachers and leaders in schools and educational settings serving disadvantaged communities.

Scholarships to cover the full cost of NPQs will be available to:

• The 50% of schools with the highest proportion of Pupil Premium funding.
• 16-19 education settings identified as having high disadvantage.
• Early Years practitioners in highly disadvantaged settings for the NPQEYL.

Additionally, scholarships will remain available for all teachers and leaders in publicly funded schools and 16-19 educational settings for the following NPQs:

• NPQLPM
• NPQSENCo
• NPQH (including EHCO for eligible participants)

Note: For those intending to access the NPQSENCo, the qualification must begin by April 2025 to ensure prioritisation. Further information regarding recruitment and the allocation of NPQ places will be shared by late January.

For April 2025, we are offering 5 NPQs in partnership with Ambition Institute. Please click on the NPQ you are interested in to find out more information including the programme overview, cost and duration of the programme

Leadership NPQs 

NPQH

NPQSL

NPQSENCo

Specialist NPQS

NPQLT

NPQLTD

Here are the costs for each NPQ if you are self-funding:

NPQH: £1949 +VAT

NPQSL: £1139 +VAT

NPQSENCo: £1332 +VAT

NPQLT: £899 +VAT

NPQLTD: £899 +VAT

• Monday 20th January 2025: Exceed Expression of Interest opens (applications via Ambition Institute can take action). 

• Monday 10th February 2025: DfE registration portal opens (date subject to change). 

• Monday 24th February 2025: Exceed TSHub starts reviewing applications. 

• Tuesday 18th March 2025: Application deadline (11:59 pm). 

• Thursday 27th March 2025: Deadline for applicants to accept their place on the Ambition Portal (11:59 pm). 

• Week commencing 28th April 2025: NPQ conferences commence. 

Here, you'll find support for School Leaders and prospective NPQ applicants, helping you strategically choose the most suitable NPQ for both you and your school setting.

Click here to open this as a PDF

Please note: any participants eligible for DfE funding who are withdrawn from an NPQ programme will not be eligible for funding for the same programme in the future. Only apply if you are 100% committed and confident that you can meet all the programme requirements.

To apply for an NPQ, please complete the Expression of Interest form below. The information you provide will then be given to Ambition Institute, who will contact you to start your formal application.