NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture

Create a calm, safe and purposeful school environment where every pupil can succeed with the NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC).

The programme will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead behaviour and culture across your school.

You’ll develop expertise in creating a positive, inclusive environment where expectations are clear, relationships are strong, and pupils are supported to behave well and engage fully in learning.

This is a nationally recognised qualification designed to help you lead behaviour and culture effectively and improve outcomes for all pupils.

Ideal for heads of year, behaviour leads, pastoral leaders and others responsible for behaviour, attendance and school culture.

Teachers and school leaders who:

• Have responsibility for behaviour, culture or pastoral systems
• Aspire to lead behaviour and culture across a school
• Want to develop a consistent, whole-school approach to behaviour

On this NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture, you will develop expertise in:

• creating and sustaining a positive school culture with clear expectations
• designing and implementing effective behaviour systems
• supporting pupils to develop self-regulation and positive habits
• building strong relationships between staff and pupils
• using data to monitor behaviour and inform decision-making
• supporting pupils with additional needs and addressing barriers to behaviour
• leading and developing staff to implement consistent approaches
• working with parents, carers and external agencies to support behaviour

Our NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture is delivered over 12 months through a blended learning model designed to fit around your role in school.

The programme consists of five modules and a final assessment. It includes 34 hours of online self-study, plus virtual school visits and masterclasses, plus three in-person days (each six hours), featuring practice clinics and coaching.

The programme includes:

• Local seminars – apply your learning with expert facilitators and collaborate with peers
• Virtual school visits – see effective behaviour systems and cultures in action
• Online masterclasses – hear from experienced school leaders and sector experts
• Self-study modules – engage with the latest research and evidence-informed practice
• Implementation discussions – structured support to help you apply your learning in your school

You’ll also have access to a library of masterclasses and resources throughout the programme.

There are typically two to three scheduled sessions each half term, combining online and in-person learning. You should also expect around 4-6 hours of self-study per half term.

Local seminars take place during the school working week and during term time. Schools should plan for participant attendance as part of their professional development commitment.

The programme is designed to be manageable alongside your existing role.

We have a wide network of delivery locations that allow us to reach participants from most areas. Reach out to your regional delivery team to find out which is closest to you.

North and West: Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

South, East and London: Essex, Hertfordshire, North East London, Norwich, South East London, Suffolk, Sutton, Surrey. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

North and East: Doncaster, Gateshead, Grimsby, Halifax, Leicestershire, Newcastle, Peterlee, Redcar, Tyne and Wear, Washington. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

South and West: Birmingham, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dudley, Gloucestershire, Sandwell, Somerset, South Staffordshire, Swindon, Walsall, Worcester. Contact [email protected] to find out more.

• Develop expertise in leading behaviour and culture
• Build confidence to implement and sustain whole-school systems
• Gain a nationally recognised qualification
• Apply evidence-informed approaches to improve pupil behaviour
• Strengthen your career progression opportunities

• A more consistent and effective approach to behaviour
• Improved pupil engagement and learning outcomes
• A positive, safe and supportive school environment
• Reduced disruption and improved staff confidence

To complete the NPQLBC, you will:

• Engage fully with the programme
• Complete a written, ‘open book’ assessment (up to 1,500 words)

The assessment:

• Takes place over an eight-day window
• Assesses your understanding and application of programme content
• Includes two opportunities to pass

We will support participants with writing clinics, provide participants with live assessment support webinars and self-directed guidance materials before you gain your accreditation

This programme is suitable for:

• Teachers responsible for, or aspiring to lead, behaviour and culture

Your school may be eligible for scholarship funding, please click here to find out more.

Applications for the November 2026 cohort are now open. You can apply here.

To apply, you will need:

• full understanding of eligibility criteria
• agreement from school/employer to apply for this programme
• support from school to take part in the programme and implement learning
• your Teacher Reference Number (A TRN is a 7-digit number that uniquely identifies you in the education sector in England. This will be validated with the Department for Education, please ensure you enter the correct TRN. Not sure what your teacher reference number is? You can find out here)
• school/setting unique reference number (URN), address, contact number, number of pupils on roll, % of pupils eligible for free school meals
• a summary of your current leadership responsibilities and a 200-word statement about why you wish to complete this programme
• name, job title and email address of nominated implementation advisor, name, job title and email address of referee and invoicing contact name, address and email address.

For the November 2026 cohort, funding is available to schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils as well as early years and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage. Find out more about funding and eligibility criteria here.

If your school is not eligible for funding, the NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture costs £850.

The National Institute of Teaching is a higher education provider founded by schools, for schools.

• School-led – learn from experienced practitioners working in schools today
• Evidence-informed – grounded in the latest research on behaviour and school culture
• Designed for impact – apply your learning directly in your school context
• Built around your role – manageable alongside your responsibilities
• Collaborative – learn alongside peers and build a strong professional network

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