National professional qualifications framework review

A formal review of the existing national professional qualification (NPQ) suite.

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are a national suite of leadership qualifications designed to support the professional development of teachers and leaders. They are based on the best available evidence and best-practice of teaching and leadership in education.  

However, evidence is not static, and insights evolve. Therefore, DfE is undertaking a formal review of the existing NPQ suite. 

Scope of the review 

The review includes, but is not limited to, consideration of the following key areas: 

  • further best-practice for teaching pupils with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
  • ensuring that areas that are repeated across the different NPQ frameworks genuinely support progression through different levels of leadership
  • addressing how leadership practices can support workload reduction
  • further best-practice, particularly at executive leadership level, in operational aspects of leadership, such as how to manage a budget and deploy a workforce effectively

The department will work in partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to update the evidence-base underpinning the qualifications. It is expected the review of the suite of 10 NPQs will take approximately 18 months. The existing suite of NPQs will remain in place until the review is complete. 

Expert Steering Group

To support the review, the department has convened a panel of experts, representing a wide range of expertise from across the education sector, including serving school leaders. While the expert steering group (ESG) will advise on future changes, DfE will chair the group and retain ownership of all policy decisions related to the programme.  

The work of the ESG will also be complemented by a wide-ranging stakeholder engagement plan. 

Further information on opportunities for engagement in the review will be made available in due course. 

Membership of ESG 

The current members of the ESG are: 

  • Shazia Azhar MBE (Headteacher – Spring Grove Junior and Infant School) 
  • Dr Herminder Channa OBE (Regional Director – Oasis and National Leader of Education) 
  • Susan Douglas CBE (CEO – Eden Academy Trust)  
  • Keziah Featherstone (Executive Headteacher – The Mercian Trust) 
  • Dr Neil Gilbride (Honorary Senior Research Fellow – University of Worcester, Associate Dean – Ambition Institute) 
  • David Monis-Weston (Purposeful Ventures) 
  • Reuben Moore MBE (Executive Director of Programmes – National Institute of Teaching [NIoT]) 
  • Chris Paterson (Co-CEO – Education Endowment Foundation [EEF])  
  • Dr Catherine Scutt MBE (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research – Chartered College of Teaching, Chair – Cornwall Education Partnership)  
  • Sonia Thompson (Headteacher/Director – St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary Research and Support School)
  • Lisa Walsh (Headteacher – Grove Street Primary School)

The work of the ESG will also be complemented by a wide-ranging stakeholder engagement plan.

Further information on opportunities for engagement in the review will be made available in due course.

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