Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL)
We are delighted to be partnering with the National Institute of Teaching to deliver this programme for the Autumn 2026 cohort.
This is a national programme bringing together aspiring leaders from across the country.
- Target Audience: school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an Executive Headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools.
- Course Length: 18 months, plus 3 months for assessment period
- Brochure: NIoT - NPQ for Executive Leadership
Scholarship funding for Autumn 2026
The Department for Education has confirmed that scholarship funding for the NPQ for Executive Leadership is available for eligible schools for Autumn 2026.
For full details of NPQ funding for Autumn 2026, see here:
GOV.UK | Funding for National Professional Qualifications
Funding is limited and eligibility does not guarantee a place; early expressions of interest are encouraged.
Programme cost
If your school is not eligible for funding, the NPQ for Executive Leadership costs £3,570.
What you'll learn
How to create a Trust culture where colleagues and pupils can thrive across schools
- How to embed effective teaching, curriculum and assessment across multiple schools
- How to implement and sustain practices which lead to excellent pupil behaviour across schools
- How to support all children in your schools to succeed, including those with additional and special educational needs
- How to support and develop colleagues through trust-wide professional development
- How to run a large organisation, such as a number of schools or as a trust-wide leader
- How to work effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders to secure a great education for the children in your schools
- What governance and accountability mean in the context of multiple schools
How you'll learn
National seminars: extend your learning with an expert, school leader facilitator, build your network and apply your learning to your own context.
Virtual school visits: visit some of the country’s leading schools, learning about how they have developed and improved their practice over time to deliver exceptional outcomes and experiences for young people.
Online masterclasses: hear school-based sector experts sharing best practice from their context and experience.
One-to-one coaching: apply your learning to scenarios and to your own context, with the feedback and guidance of an expert serving Executive Leader.
Online self-studies: learn cutting-edge research and how it is being applied successfully in schools.