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

A National SENCO Cohort 

We deliver our NPQSENCO cohort nationally, bringing together participants from a wide range of school contexts across the country. This national approach enables access to expert facilitators and specialists, supporting rich collaboration and the sharing of best practice in SEND leadership. 

For Autumn 2026 (Cohort 10), we will also be offering two virtual NPQSENCO options: one designed specifically for leaders in small schools, and an international cohort for participants based outside the UK. These flexible pathways will provide access to the same high-quality content and expertise, with further details available on the NPQSENCO course page. 

How much time will I need out of school? 

The NPQSENCO course runs over 18 months and covers the following:    

• ACTIVATE: 9 x 90-minute online webinars (13.5 hrs total)   

• TEACH: 10 x 3-hour asynchronous self-study (30 hrs total)   

• PRACTICE (coaching): 4 x 2-hour sessions (8 hrs total)   

• CONFERENCE: 5 x 2 hr online sessions (10 hrs total)   

• APPLY: 5 x face to face days or 10 online half days (30 hrs total)      

• Immersive School Visit: 1 half day (up to 3 hrs)   

Our NPQ SENCO course gives options for when you'd like to attend your ACTIVATE and PRACTICE sessions, meaning these can be done in the morning, afternoon or after school, whatever best suits you and your school.

APPLY sessions, CONFERENCES and the Immersive School Visit are always held during the school day, so you will need cover for the sessions. 

How much will it cost?

Funding information for Cohort 10 is available at NPQ Funding.

How to apply?

Find all the information you need to apply at: NPQ Application

The NPQ 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 course will help you gain confidence and develop skills in: 

• leadership knowledge and the specialist expertise needed to tackle school improvement priorities of 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 time will I need out of school? 

The NPQSL course covers the following:    

• ACTIVATE: 10 x 90-minute online webinars (15 hrs total)   

• TEACH: 10 x 3-hour asynchronous self-study (30 hrs total)   

• PRACTICE: 4 x 2-hour online coaching sessions (8 hrs total)   

• APPLY: 4 x face to face days (or 8 online sessions) and 1 x online day (30 hrs total)      

ACTIVATE and some PRACTICE sessions are usually held after school as twilight sessions (4-5:30 for ACTIVATE, PRACTICE sessions are scheduled locally), so the main time when you will require cover is for the APPLY sessions. 

How much will it cost? 

Funding information for Cohort 10 is available at NPQ Funding.   

How to apply? 

Find all the information you need to apply at: NPQ Application

NPQ Headship (NPQH) 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 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 time will I need out of school? 

The NPQH course covers the following:    

• ACTIVATE: 10 x 90-minute online webinars (15 hrs total)   

• TEACH: 10 x 3-hour asynchronous self-study (30 hrs total)   

• PRACTICE: 5 x 2-hour online coaching sessions (10 hrs total)   

• APPLY: 5 x face to face days or 10 online sessions (30 hrs total)      

ACTIVATE and some PRACTICE sessions are held after school as twilight sessions (4-5:30 for ACTIVATE, PRACTICE sessions are scheduled locally), so the main time when you will require cover is for the APPLY sessions. 

How much will it cost? 

Funding information for Cohort 10 is available at NPQ Funding.

How to apply? 

Find all the information you need to apply at: NPQ Application

NPQ Executive Leadership (NPQEL) is an 18-month NPQ 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?

Watch: Gemma’s story

Watch: 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 a wide range of contexts across the country. Delivering the course at a national level enables us to draw on nationally renowned specialists, speakers and trust leaders. 

To support this learning, we host 3 two-day residentials during the programme at convenient locations across the country. The video below provides a flavour of one of our recent residentials in Manchester. 

Watch the video: NPQEL Highlights from Manchester

How much time will I need out of school?

The NPQEL course runs over 18 months and covers the following:    

• ACTIVATE: 6 x 90-minute online webinars (9 hrs total)  

• TEACH: 10 x 3-hour asynchronous self-study (30 hrs total)  

• PRACTICE (coaching): 3 x 2hr online sessions (6 hrs total)  

• APPLY: 3x 2-day residentials (held in Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol)  

The ACTIVATE sessions and all of the PRACTICE sessions are held in the afternoon. The main time when you will require cover is for the  APPLY residentials, the PRACTICE sessions and the ACTIVATE sessions.  You must attend all three residentials.

How much will it cost?

Funding information for Cohort 10 is available at NPQ Funding.

How to apply?

Find all the information you need to apply at: NPQ Application