Course overview

Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture is designed to provide you with the latest behaviour systems and strategies, so that you can create a positive school culture.

> Length: 12 months.
> Delivery: Blended learning, that includes 'little and often' online and face to face learning.
> Qualification: Sector recognised qualification.
> Curriculum: Carefully sequenced and evidence informed.

What you'll learn

Our NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture course follows the Department of Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Leading Behaviour and Culture Framework.

On this programme, you will learn how to:

create a culture of high expectations across your school
support the development of a positive, predictable and safe environment for pupils
assist pupils with complex behavioural needs
nurture improvement through evidence-based professional development
put new approaches to leading behaviour and culture into practice in your school setting.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

How you'll learn

Our NPQLBC is designed so you can engage in both live, facilitated sessions and modules that you can complete at any time.

Over 12 months, our NPQLBC includes:

One full day conference.
Six courses (each course lasts about six weeks and loosely aligns with a school half term).
Each course includes six modules.
Five two-hour clinics (facilitated sessions).
One two-hour assessment clinic.
Three communities (1hr15mins group sessions).

The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes 8 hours of in-person delivery (via 1 full day conference and at least 1 in-person twilight session), a mix of real-time, interactive online sessions and self-guided modules you complete in your own time.

The programme includes facilitator-led sessions with your peer group that focus on decision making. The programme starts with a one-day live conference.
Note: programme content is subject to change.

Why should I train with Ambition?

Choose our NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture and you’ll be joining over 35,000 teachers and school leaders (as of May 2025), who have decided on an Ambition NPQ since they launched in 2021.

Evidence informed curriculum
Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed NPQ is designed around the key problems you face. You’ll learn to develop a culture of high expectations which has a positive impact on school outcomes.

Access the latest research
This includes research on motivating classrooms, enabling conditions for good behaviour and supporting pupils who need more intensive support.

Train to your timetable
Our ‘little and often’ approach means you can engage with our NPQs around your busy timetable, with minimal time needed out of school. On average just one hour per week to engage in our NPQLBC.

No large project
Plus, on our NPQs there’s no large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ assessment with support via two on-demand webinars and a dedicated, live assessment preparation clinic to help you get the most from your NPQ.

Join our charitable mission
We support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers, helping them to keep getting better. We are a charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.

Benefits for you

Become an expert
No matter what your ultimate career goal, the NPQLBC offers continuous professional development and a chance to develop specific expertise with tailored feedback and support.

Drive meaningful change
Develop your knowledge in leading behaviour and culture and apply it in practice across your school to engage and motivate staff and pupils and reduce disruption in classrooms.

Create a positive school culture
Learn to think beyond managing individual classrooms and develop school-wide systems and processes to support pupils and get the best out of them.

Designed by experts
Benefit from a programme which is designed and delivered by pupil behaviour and school culture specialists and experts from across the sector.

Invest in your future
Ongoing professional development helps you to grow and thrive as a leader. You will follow an evidence-informed framework and gain a professional accreditation at the end of the programme.

Learn at your pace
This programme is designed to fit around your busy teaching role. Much of the work can be completed in short bursts around your existing schedule.

Connect with your peers
You will train alongside other leaders of behaviour and school culture from similar school contexts. You can share your experiences and build a strong support network.

Benefits for your school

Improve pupil outcomes
Pupils are more likely to thrive in a positive and encouraging school environment driven by model behaviour and a consistent approach to rules and rewards.

Build a positive culture
Investing in your teachers’ development will make them feel supported and more satisfied in their work. This will filter down to the classroom, creating happier, more motivated pupils.

Highly flexible delivery
Our NPQs are designed to fit around your teachers’ existing working timetables and are delivered in short, sharp bursts of learning. Your participants can complete weekly, online units, at a time that suits them.

Create a ‘golden thread’
The NPQs are all aligned. So, no matter what career stage your teachers are at, by joining this programme, they will benefit from an evidence-based framework. They will also share a common language with other NPQ participants that they can pass on to colleagues.

Retain your teaching talent
By allowing teachers to develop and nurture their talents in specialist areas such as school culture you are investing in their future. This will boost their confidence, making them feel supported and less likely to apply for jobs elsewhere.

Tap into a network
Your teachers will train alongside peers from other schools with similar contexts, supported by facilitators that fully understand your needs.

How much does it cost?

For previous cohorts, Department for Education (DfE) funding targeted those teachers and leaders who work in the top 50% of England's most disadvantaged schools, according to pupil premium percentage.

The DfE has yet to announce funding for future cohorts, but we expect this will be made nearer to the beginning of next cohort.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture costs £899 plus VAT.

*Currently nurseries are not available yet on the tool. If you work in a nursery, please contact us directly at [email protected]

Self-funded payment options
If you are unable to access a DfE funded scholarship, you can pay for your NPQ.

We will invoice the school/trust contact you provide in your registration directly. Depending on your school type, they maybe be able to reclaim VAT.

If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your school, we can invoice you directly, but you will not be able to reclaim VAT.

Unfortunately, we do not offer payment plans for our NPQ programmes.

The cost of your programme must be paid in full before the start of your programme. We are unable to offer refunds once you start the programme.

DfE funding restrictions
Due to DfE funding being limited, being eligible for an NPQ scholarship does not guarantee either suitability for the course or that a funded course place is available.

If funded places are not available, you can:

approach a different NPQ provider to enquire about the availability of funded course places
choose to join your chosen providers waiting list
choose to pay for a course place

Get in touch to find out more.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for this programme, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in your school.

NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

How am I assessed?

You’ll sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.

The assessment window starts at the end of the 12-month programme and your outcome is usually available within four months (subject to change by the DfE).

During this time:

You’ll be given an eight-day window to complete the case study.
You have two submission attempts. If you fail on the first submission, you will have one further opportunity to resit the assessment. You will submit the assessment in the next available assessment window.
You need to complete 90% of the programme and pass the assessment to gain the qualification.
We will offer a live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you.

Assessment period in April 2026
If you’re starting a specialist NPQ in April 2025, please be aware your assessment could take place within an 8-day period between 1-24 April 2026; it is not always possible to avoid national holidays and/or school holidays due to DfE's assessment timelines.

Where can I train?

Join a local cohort with one of our regional partners and benefit from our expert curriculum design along with a tailored experience linked to your local context.

If you are unable to find a local cohort, you can join Ambition’s national cohort and gain a national network of peers. Either way, we work to give you the best possible experience.

Find a cohort that’s local to you in our list of partners here.

What our partners can do for you

Ambition Institute provides high-quality content and materials, built on our experience in schools and other learning environments, and our deep knowledge of evidence and practice.

Our partner in your region will put this knowledge into context and manage your experience on the programme, from facilitation to day-to-day support.

The timings and methods of activity, sizes of cohorts and the cost of the programme may vary across delivery partners.

How do I apply?

Applications are currently closed. Enquire now to be kept updated about future cohorts.

> When applications are open, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in your school.
> NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.

DfE registration: Until you've completed the DfE registration, available from 8 September 2025, your registration and funding will not be confirmed. You can register here.

Our application process in seven simple steps:

Step 1: On the programme page
Click ‘Apply now’.
Step 2: Set up your MyAmbition account
Create an account with your name, email address and password. Confirm your email to activate your account.
Step 3: Complete your application
Log in to MyAmbition, fill in your personal and professional details, and answer the application questions. Attach any required documents.
Step 4: Submit your application
Review your answers and click ‘Submit’.
Step 5: Application in review
You’re application will be reviewed and you will be contacted if more information is needed.
Step 6: Place offered
If your application is successful, we will send you an offer by email.
Step 7: Place accepted
Accept your offer on MyAmbition to secure your place.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the NPQLBC programme for?

The NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture is designed teachers who have, or is aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in your school.

How long does the NPQLBC programme last?

The NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture is a 12-month programme, with a mixture of live, facilitated sessions and self-directed learning.

Is the NPQLBC programme fully funded?

For previous cohorts, the DfE has made funding available so that teachers and leaders can train at zero cost to themselves or their school budget. Currently, no funding for future NPQ cohorts has been guaranteed by the DfE.

How does the NPQLBC programme accommodate busy schedules?

The NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture is designed to fit around your schedule with a 'little and often' approach that aligns with insights from the science of learning.

Are there any specific requirements to enrol on the NPQLBC programme?

To be eligible for the NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture, you must be a serving teacher, leader or non-teaching specialists in a school or eligible organisation in England, and have completed your early career training.

National Professional Qualification for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)