NPQ Funding Information
The DfE have announced a one cohort per year model. The DfE application window for the Autumn 2026 intake will open on the 23rd June 2026.
Scholarship funding will be available for the following:
- the NPQ for Headship and NPQ for SENCOs will continue to be fully funded, regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the NPQ for Senior Leadership will now be fully funded, regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the NPQ for Early Years Leadership will now be fully funded for participants working in Early Years settings regardless of disadvantage criteria
- the above arrangements apply to participants working in eligible educational settings
NPQ scholarships for settings with high levels of disadvantage:
Eligibility Lists can be found here. Where there is high demand, a screening process will be followed to ensure funded places are distributed equitably and fairly.
Funding is applied for through the DfE’s registration process/portal. The DfE portal is expected to open on the 23rd June 2026.
Scholarship funding is also available for the following NPQs based on disadvantage criteria:
- Leading Teaching
- Leading Behaviour and Culture
- Leading Literacy
- Leading Primary Mathematics
- Executive Leadership
- Leading Teacher Development
For these NPQs, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost is available to teachers and leaders from eligible schools and 16 to 19 settings that have high levels of disadvantage.
RISE scholarships
Schools in the targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme are eligible for scholarship funding for all NPQs. Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE): school support provides further details on the targeted RISE programme and lists schools that are eligible for targeted RISE intervention.
Leading teacher development NPQ scholarship
For the leading teacher development NPQ, scholarship funding is available if you:
- work in a school or setting that appears on one of the disadvantage eligibility lists
- are taking on the role of lead mentor for an initial teacher training (ITT) provider accredited to deliver ITT from September 2024 (this includes those working in non-school settings or in schools not otherwise eligible under the disadvantage criteria)
The costs for those not able to access a funded place have been provided by Teach First below. These are based on the academic year 25-26 and will be updated once 26-27 is released.
