NPQ Deadline Extended - Apply by 16th November!

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Helen Grzeszczak - The Education People Teacher Development Team in Career

Great news for aspiring school leaders and educators across the UK - the NPQ application deadline has been extended! We are excited to share that the deadline to apply for a fully funded National Professional Qualification (NPQ) has been extended to 16th November! This extension is due to the Department for Education allocating us additional scholarship-funded places, meaning even more educators can now access these fully funded professional development opportunities.

The Department for Education NPQ programmes are designed to support teachers and leaders at every stage of their career. Whether you're aiming for middle leadership, senior leadership, or headship, there's an NPQ tailored to your goals:

NPQSL application UK – for senior leaders
NPQH deadline extended – for aspiring headteachers
NPQ courses UK November – includes NPQLTD, NPQLBC, NPQEL and more

If you’ve been considering applying, now is the time to take the next step in your professional journey.

Why This Deadline Matters

The Department for Education has confirmed there will be only one NPQ cohort in the 2025/26 academic year. That means this is your last chance to apply for a fully funded NPQ before Autumn 2026 - and future funding is not guaranteed. If you are unsure if your school qualifies for funding, check your school’s eligibility here.

Key Information

NPQH and NPQSENCO remain fully funded for most schools.
NPQSENCO is ideal for current and aspiring SENCOs, as well as senior leaders focused on whole-school inclusion. There’s no limit on the number of NPQSENCO scholarships per school—we recommend at least two trained colleagues to maximise impact.
The Education People have been allocated a significant number of scholarship-funded places. Apply early to secure funding while places last.
Not eligible for NPQ scholarships? You can still access fully funded Leadership Apprenticeships with NPQs, delivered in partnership with Best Practice Network. These combine NPQSL, NPQH or NPQEL with Level 5 or Level 7 apprenticeship standards, funded via the Apprenticeship Levy.
We also offer the Coaching in Education Apprenticeship (Level 5, dual award), funded via the Apprenticeship Levy—perfect for those interested in coaching roles or building on existing mentoring experience.

Spread the Word

If you have colleagues who might be interested in undertaking an NPQ, please encourage them to apply now. Missing this intake means waiting until Autumn 2026 - with no guarantee of future funding.