Leadership NPQs

Become an expert leader of special educational needs.

This is a new course designed for SENCOs. It launched in Autumn 2024 and replaces the NASENCO qualification. It is a mandatory course for Special Educational Needs co-ordinators.

Our NPQ SENCO course will support you as you develop your leadership of special educational needs and equip you to build an inclusive culture in your school where every child can flourish.

Who this course is for?

This course is for:

• special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)

• teachers interested in developing expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or undertaking a SENCO role in future

• school leaders

What will my NPQSENCO cover?

This 18-month course will help you gain confidence and develop skills in:

• co-ordinating special educational needs (SEN) provision throughout your school

• working alongside other leaders to build a school culture in which pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can:

  • participate meaningfully in the full life of the school

  • achieve ambitious outcomes

  • make successful transitions to their next steps

This course covers the following topics:

• School culture

• Statutory framework

• Identification of need

• Teaching

• Behaviour

• Leading and managing provision

• Professional development

• Implementation

How much will it cost?

Limited DfE scholarship funding is available for Spring 2025.

For the NPQ for SENCOs, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost, may be available to teachers and leaders who:

• a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.

• work in a state funded school in England

If no funded places are available to you, the NPQ for SENCOs costs £1333 plus VAT.

For more information contact us at npqapplication@churchofengland.org.

How to apply?

Apply now for a place on our Spring 2025 cohort.

Read the DfE overview of the course.

The National Professional for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) is the nationally recognised, professional qualification for Senior Leaders. Validated by the DFE and EEF, our evidence-based, rigorous NPQSL gives all aspiring or new Senior Leaders the firm foundation you’ll need to take your career to the next step.

What will I learn on NPQSL?

This 18-month course will help you gain confidence and develop skills in:

• leadership knowledge and the specialist expertise needed to tackle school improvement priorities o supporting the development of a positive, predictable and safe environment for pupils

• contributing to your school’s strategic direction and establishing an environment for pupil success

• helping ensure staff feel supported and valued

This course covers themes including:

• school culture

• effective teaching

• supporting curriculum and assessment development

• behaviour

• additional and special educational needs

• professional development

• organisational management

You’ll also learn about:

• implementation strategies

• working in partnership with parents and carers

• governance and accountability

How much will it cost?

Limited DfE scholarship funding is available for Spring 2025. Funding will target those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities.

For the NPQ for Senior Leaders, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost, may be available to teachers and leaders who:

1. Work in the 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding

2. 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage in England

School eligibility lists for the spring cohorts will be available from the DfE in early 2025.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ in Senior Leadership costs £1135 plus VAT.

For more information contact us on npqapplication@churchofengland.org.

How to apply?

Apply now for a place on our Spring 2025 cohort.

Read the DfE overview of the course.

NPQH (Headship) is the nationally recognised, professional qualification for Headteachers. Validated by the DFE and EEF, our evidence-based, rigorous NPQH gives all aspiring or new headteachers the firm foundation you’ll need to take your career to the next step.

What will I learn?

This 18-month course will help you gain confidence and develop skills in:

• curriculum and assessment

• behaviour

• professional development

• governance and accountability

• implementing school improvements

This course covers themes including:

• school culture

• effective teaching

• supporting curriculum and assessment development

• establishing and sustaining a positive, predictable and safe environment for pupils

• additional and special educational needs

• professional development

• organisational management

You’ll also learn about:

• implementation strategies

• working in partnership with parents and carers

• governance and accountability

How much will it cost?

Limited DfE scholarship funding is available for Spring 2025.

For the NPQ for Headteachers, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost, may be available to teachers and leaders who:

• Are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.

• Work in a state school in England.

If no funded places are available to you, the NPQ for Headteachers costs £1970 plus VAT.

For more information contact us on npqapplication@churchofengland.org.

How to apply?

Apply now for a place on our Spring 2025 cohort.

Read the DfE overview of the course.

NPQEL (Executive Leadership) is an 18-month NPQ is for those who are, or aspiring to be, an executive headteacher, trust director or chief executive, with responsibility for leading several schools.

Why study the NPQEL with the Church of England?

Gemma’s story

Matthew’s story

This course covers themes including:

During the NPQEL, we cover a range of themes pertinent to Executive Leaders. We support leaders to consider the complexity, challenges and opportunities of developing these key areas in multi-school settings.

The themes we explore are:

• Trust Culture

• Teaching

• Organisational Management (including Finance, HR, Risk, Safeguarding)

• Professional Development

• Curriculum and Assessment

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

• Behaviour

• Working in Partnership

• Governance and Accountability

• Implementation at scale

A national NPQEL cohort

We deliver our NPQEL cohort nationally, meaning that participants will have the opportunity to work with and meet colleagues from different contexts across the country. Delivering the course nationally enables us to draw nationally renowned specialists, speakers and trust leaders. To facilitate this learning, we hold three, 2-day residentials during the programme at convenient locations across the country. The video below gives a flavour of one of our recent residentials in Manchester.

NPQEL Highlights from Manchester

How much will it cost?

Limited DfE scholarship funding is available for Spring 2025. Funding will target those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities.

For the NPQ for Executive Leaders, scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost, may be available to teachers and leaders who:

1. Work in the 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding

2. 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage in England

School eligibility lists for the spring cohorts will be available from the DfE in early 2025.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ in Executive Leadership costs £4085 plus VAT.

For more information contact us on npqapplication@churchofengland.org.

How to apply?

Apply now for a place on our Spring 2025 cohort.

Read the DfE overview of the course.