The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed details of funding details for NPQ cohorts commencing Autumn 2026.

• Leadership NPQs - limited funding is available for teachers and leaders in publicly-funded schools (including maintained nursery schools) and 16 to 19 educational settings in England for the following NPQs:
  • NPQ Headship
  • NPQ SENCO
  • NPQ Senior Leadership
  • NPQ Early Years Leadership
• Specialist NPQs - limited funding is available for the following NPQs based on PP50 disadvantage criteria:
  • NPQ Leading Teaching
  • NPQ Leading Behaviour & Culture
  • NPQ Leading Literacy
  • NPQ Leading Primary Maths
  • NPQ Leading Teacher Development

• Limited funding is available for the NPQ Leading Teacher Development if you:
  • work in a school or setting listed on one of the disadvantage lists, or
  • are taking on the role of lead mentor for an ITT provider accredited to deliver ITT from September 2024 (including those working in non-school settings or in schools not otherwise eligible under the disadvantage criteria)
• Limited funding is available to schools in the targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence RISE programme. 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.

• Limited funding is available for participants undertaking the Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) who are in their first five years of headship, and undertaking or have completed the NPQ Headship.

Please note:

• Funded places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.  This means even though your setting may be eligible for funding, you are not guaranteed a funded place. The exception to this is the NPQSENCO where applicants will be awarded funding based on their role.  Current SENCOs will be firstly awarded funding followed by aspiring SENCOs and those who line manage SENCOs.  

Further notes:

• Funding eligibility will be confirmed when you register your NPQ with the DfE. 
• If you do not work in a school/setting that is eligible for funding, or our funded places are full, then you/your school/setting will be required to pay - please see table of costs below. 
• Ambition Institute will invoice the school/trust contact you provide in your registration directly.  Depending on your school type, you may be able to reclaim VAT.
• If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your school/trust, Ambition Invoice can invoice you directly, but you will not be able to reclaim VAT.
• The cost of your programme must be paid in full before the start of your programme. 
• We do not offer payment plans for our NPQ programmes.
• We are unable to offer refunds once you start the programme.