Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Deferred
Paragraph: 138
Reinstate National Professional Qualifications funding for all teachers and establish standalone funding
Recommendation
We also recognise that cost can prevent teachers from engaging with Continuing Professional Development. Consequently, we are concerned about the announcement that from Autumn 2024 funding for National professional qualifications (NPQs) will only be provided to teachers and school leaders at select schools. We urge the Department to rethink this decision to restrict funding for NPQs which can benefit teachers in every school, and we recommend that this decision is reversed so that funding is reinstated for all teachers to be able to benefit from NPQs. Further, we recommend that the Department creates standalone funding for NPQs so this is not reliant on temporary programmes such as the Department’s catch-up programme.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response broadly discusses workload reduction efforts, past actions like removing Performance Related Pay, and launching a new wellbeing service. However, it does not address the specific recommendation to reverse the decision to restrict NPQ funding or create standalone funding.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
138
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
NPQs are based on the best available evidence of what works, providing access to high-quality in-role training and support in the areas that matter most to teaching and learning, ensuring they continue to provide the knowledge and skills needed for teachers and leaders to develop their schools and improve pupil outcomes. While not subject-specific, the NPQ in Leading Teaching (NPQLT) is designed for subject leaders and provides them with the appropriate foundations to lead curriculum development or a department. The use of subject-specific exemplification materials is embedded into the course content where appropriate to enable education professionals to develop expert teaching practice within their relevant context. NPQs are not designed to provide all of the professional development (PD) a teacher can access throughout their career. They can, and should, be supplemented by a variety of subject-specific professional development, including that which is provided by schools, trusts, subject associations, charities, and other private training organisations. However, we know that evidence is not static and insights evolve. Therefore, we will establish a process for reviewing the existing NPQ suite, to ensure the qualifications continue to be based on the latest evidence and best-practice of what works for teaching and learning. The government has inherited a challenging set of fiscal circumstance and needs to make difficult decisions to restore economic stability, including focusing funding where it is needed most to deliver the best outcomes for children and young people. The government is committed to continue delivering funded NPQs in 2025 with a cohort commencing in the spring. Future funding will be confirmed in due course following the multiyear Spending Review. We will also support teachers to access more high-quality CPD through the introduction of a new teacher training entitlement.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗