National Professional Qualification for Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM)

Choose our NPQ for Leading Primary Maths 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 NPQLPM will help you to develop a positive culture for maths teaching and embed effective approaches to teaching maths across your primary setting.

Co-developed with AC+
This programme has been co-developed by Ambition and the AC+ Mathematics Mastery team. AC+ brought teaching for mastery to the UK, and their primary programme has proven impact of two months additional progress in a year.

Build on your mastery expertise
The programme has been designed for primary teachers and leaders who are familiar with mastery approaches to teaching maths. Use your existing mastery expertise and embed this across your school.

Access the latest maths research
This includes instruction, curriculum, assessment, culture, professional development and implementation. All of this content will be delivered through a primary and maths specific lens.

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 NPQLPM.

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.

Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed NPQ for Leading Primary Maths designed to support you become an expert leader of primary mathematics and learn how to embed high-quality mastery approaches to maths teaching in your school.

> Length: 12 months.
> Delivery: Blended learning, that includes 'little and often' online and face to face learning.
> Cost: Limited funding for eligible state schools in England. Self-funded places available.
> Qualification: Sector recognised qualification.
> Curriculum: Carefully sequenced and evidence informed.

To be eligible for this programme, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibilities for primary leading teaching in mathematics, numeracy, curriculum, teaching and learning, phase or a primary classroom teacher aspiring to lead.

This course could be suitable if you’re a:

• Primary teacher and you’re already familiar with mastery approaches to teaching maths, but you want to improve your leadership skills in this area.
• Subject leader in a primary school which is already engaged in the Teaching for Mastery programme or a similar programme.
• Phase leader in an all-through school with responsibility for educating a primary aged key-stage or primary school

For example, you might be a:

• Primary Mathematics Lead
• Primary Numeracy Lead
• Primary Curriculum Lead
• Primary Teaching and Learning Lead
• Primary Phase Lead
• Primary classroom teacher aspiring to lead mathematics.

NPQLPM participants are expected to have completed a minimum of 1 Year of the DfE's Teaching for Mastery programme, delivered by the national network of Maths Hubs and co-ordinated by NCETM, or have secure mastery expertise from another equivalent programme.

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

Funding for autumn 2025 is targeted for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities.

For the NPQ for Leading Primary Maths, funded scholarships are available for those who meet the following criteria:

• Teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading primary mathematics teaching across a school, key stage or phase.
• Be familiar with mastery approaches to teaching maths or be a subject leader in a primary school which is already engaged in the Teaching for Mastery programme or a similar programme.
• Work in the 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding and 16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage in England.

RISE intervention schools
You may be eligible for funding if you work in a school that is eligible for targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) intervention.

Check if you’re eligible! If you're unsure whether you will qualify for a DfE-funded place, please use our online eligibility check tool

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ for Leading Primary Maths 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

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 runs for up to four months (subject to change by the DfE).
During this time:

• You’ll be given an eight-day window to complete the case study.
• Participants can sit the assessment twice, if they need to.
• 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.

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.

National cohort location
The launch conference for Ambition’s national NPQLPM autumn cohort will take place Friday 21 November and will be held at Burleigh Court Conference Centre, Loughborough University. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.

Applications are now open for November 2025 cohorts. Apply here

Don’t wait! Due to a change in DfE guidance, there’s no spring 2026 cohort across all NPQ providers. So, there’s only one chance to start this academic year!

To apply, you must be a teacher who has, or is aspiring to have, responsibilities for primary leading teaching in mathematics, numeracy, curriculum, teaching and learning, phase or a primary classroom teacher aspiring to lead.

NPQLPM participants are expected to have completed a minimum of 1 Year of the DfE's Teaching for Mastery programme, delivered by the national network of Maths Hubs and co-ordinated by NCETM, or have secure mastery expertise from another equivalent programme.

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.

National cohort location
The launch conference for Ambition’s national NPQLPM autumn cohort will take place Friday 21 November and will be held at Burleigh Court Conference Centre, Loughborough University. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.

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