Course overview

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.
> Qualification: Sector recognised qualification.
> Curriculum: Carefully sequenced and evidence informed.
> Cost: Limited funding for all state schools in England. Self-funded places available.

What you'll learn

This programme follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Leading Primary Maths framework.

On this programme, you will learn how to:

Understand what good primary maths teaching practice is and how to implement it.
Embed mastery approaches to teaching maths in your school.
Lead your school to teach maths effectively, working collaboratively with senior leaders and teachers.
Develop your ability and capacity to improve the provision of maths across your school.
Equip staff to plan effective primary maths lessons and stimulate your pupils’ thinking.
Help colleagues to adapt their maths teaching to meet different needs.
Align your professional development with wider school improvement priorities.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

How you'll learn

Our NPQLPM is designed so you can engage in live, facilitated sessions alongside modules you can complete at any time.

Over 12 months, our NPQLPM 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 (1 hour 15 minute group sessions).

The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes 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 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.

Ofsted rated Outstanding
We're proud that our NPQ provision has been awarded Outstanding across all areas by Ofsted.

Benefits for you

Excel as a teacher
Delve deeper into the nuts and bolts of what makes an effective primary maths teacher, what good maths teaching looks like, and how you can lead others so they can learn from you.

Develop a positive maths culture
Learn how to create a positive attitude to maths in your primary school. You’ll learn how to develop systems that help your pupils overcome any maths anxiety and build their resilience to solving maths problems.

Design an effective maths curriculum
As a leader of maths, you’ll learn how to implement and lead an effective maths curriculum. You’ll be able to identify the maths knowledge that pupils need, identify gaps in their understanding and make changes to improve outcomes.

Build on your existing mastery expertise
This new NPQ will support you to embed mastery approaches to teaching maths in your school. You’ll also benefit from the design expertise of AC+ who have been working with primary schools for over a decade to develop effective approaches to teaching and leadership.

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

Learn to 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 primary maths teachers from similar school contexts. You can share your experiences and build a strong support network.

Benefits for your school

Improve maths teaching
Your maths leaders will learn techniques to improve the teaching of maths across your school. This includes creating an effective school-wide teaching strategy through the careful sequencing of lessons as well as supporting teachers to understand and use evidence-informed approaches to maths teaching.

Create a ‘golden thread’
The new 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.

Access the latest learning
Teachers will bring evidence-based teaching and learning into classrooms, meaning high quality teaching and improved pupil outcomes.

Identify future leaders
Competent and confident teachers who excel in their roles will be more likely to apply for middle or senior positions in your school when they arise.

Retain your teaching talent
By allowing teachers to develop and nurture their talents in specialist areas such as maths, 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 who fully understand your needs.

Am I eligible?

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.

How much does it cost?

Funding for autumn 2026 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.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ for Leading Primary Maths costs £899 plus VAT.

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.
Find out more about RISE school eligibility here.

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

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 delivery partners and benefit from our expert curriculum design along with a tailored experience linked to your local context.

If there isn't currently a delivery partner in your area, you can join Ambition’s national cohort. Either way, we work to give you the best possible experience.

To look for your local delivery partner, use our interactive map tool.

Our delivery partners cover the majority of England's major regions, including:

North of England: Country Durham, Cumbria, Gateshead, Middlesborough, Sunderland, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, Tyneside, and more.
Lancashire and Yorkshire: Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Kirklees and more.
East Midlands and the Humber: Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and more.
West Midlands: Birmingham, Sandwell, Shropshire, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire and more.
East of England and North East London: Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Havering, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, King's Lynn and more.
South Central England and North West London: City of London, Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Westminster, Reading, Slough, Camden, Islington, Berkshire, Basingstoke and more.
South East and South West: Kent, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, Bath and more.

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 the November 2026 cohorts.

When applications are open, 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 23 June 2026, your registration and funding will not be confirmed. You will be able to 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.

What do our participants say?

We’re proud to be the largest provider of NPQs in England.

As an education charity, this helps our mission to support more teachers and school leaders serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds to keep getting better.

From our recent participant survey*, we heard that:

94% of participants agreed that their Ambition NPQ had helped them to develop their expertise as a school leader.
92% of participants agreed that as a result of their Ambition NPQ, they felt better equipped to carry out their current role.
95% of leaders agreed that staff completing an Ambition NPQ had supported their school to improve.

You can read more about what our NPQ participants have said here >>

*taken from our May 2025 NPQ participant survey.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the NPQLPM programme for?

The NPQ for Leading Primary Maths is designed for teachers who have, 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

How long does the NPQLPM programme last?

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

Is the NPQLPM 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 NPQLPM programme accommodate busy schedules?

The NPQ for Leading Primary Maths 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 NPQLPM programme?

To be eligible for the NPQ for Leading Primary Maths, you must be a serving teacher in a school or eligible organisation in England and have completed your early career training.

National Professional Qualification for Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM)