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.

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

The review will include 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.

An NPQ Call for Evidence, as part of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Framework Review, has now been launched. 

The DfE is reviewing the frameworks to ensure they are based on the best available evidence and best-practice of teaching and leadership in education.  They are seeking recent, relevant and high-quality research that may inform updates to the evidence-base underpinning three NPQ frameworks: 

• Headship (NPQH)  

• Senior Leadership (NPQSL) 

• Executive Leadership (NPQEL)  

The call for evidence is now open and will close at 23:59 on Friday 16 May 2025. 

Further information, including how you can submit evidence, can be found on Gov.uk. 

School Standards Minister, Catherine McKinnell, said:  

“I encourage and ask all the education workforce to have their say and engage with this important C4E. We will continue to work with the sector to make the necessary improvements, so teachers and leaders not only stay in the profession but thrive.”   

The DfE will launch a separate call for evidence in Autumn/Winter 2025 for the remaining NPQs.