On Friday 10 January 2025, the DfE announced a review of the national professional qualifications (NPQs) frameworks. The review is expected to take 18 months and will be supported by a wide-ranging programme of engagement from across the sector.

The review will focus on four key areas:

• SEND,
• leadership progression
• workload reduction
• operational leadership.

The review includes the convening of an expert steering group who will work in partnership with the DfE and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to update the frameworks.

Details of the Review, along with the Expert Steering Group members, are available at: NPQs framework review - GOV.UK.

Click here to view the DfE's initial responses to the first NPQ Call for Evidence, focused on the NPQs for Headship, Senior Leadership and Executive Leadership.

On Wednesday 10 December, the DfE launched a second exercise as part of the process, welcoming insights or opinions on the full suite of NPQs and research evidence,  which may inform updates to the evidence-base underpinning the following seven NPQ frameworks: 

• NPQ Leading teacher development (NPQLTD)
• NPQ Leading teaching (NPQLT)
• NPQ Leading behaviour and culture (NPQLBC)
• NPQ Leading literary (NPQLL)
• NPQ Leading primary maths (NPQLPM)
• NPQ Early years leadership (NPQEYL)
• NPQ Special educational needs co-ordinator (NPQSENCO)

The call for insights and evidence survey will close on 20 February 2026.

Click here to view a Schools Week article about the NPQ review.