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Questions and answers 

1. Will teachers and leaders who have previously undertaken an NPQ be eligible for the new suite?
2. Yes. Teachers and leaders who have previously undertaken an NPQ will be eligible for funding on the reformed suite (2021/22 cohorts only), subject to meeting the scholarship criteria. This includes all those who have previously deferred, withdrawn from or failed an NPQ prior to 2021 (including, but not limited to, the legacy 2017 suite). Participants wishing to apply for future cohorts will be subject to future funding criteria.

1. Will teachers and leaders who have previously received scholarship funding for 2017 NPQs be eligible for funding on the new suite?
2. Yes. Teachers and leaders who have previously received scholarship funding for 2017 NPQs will be eligible for funding on the reformed suite (2021/22 cohorts), subject to meeting the 2021/22 scholarship criteria.

1. Is it still the case that once you have registered for a particular level of NPQ, you cannot reapply for the same level in the future?
2. Our expectation is that the majority of legacy participants would opt to take a higher-level qualification under the reformed suite, in line with their career progression. However, legacy participants will not be excluded from taking a 2021 NPQ at an equivalent level to their previous NPQ. However, a participant who fails or withdraws from a 2021 NPQ will not be eligible for scholarship-funded access to the same 2021 NPQ.

Example 1: A teacher who completes a scholarship-funded Middle Leadership NPQ from the 2017 suite would be eligible for a scholarship-funded Specialist NPQ from the 2021 suite (subject to meeting 2021/22 scholarship criteria).

Example 2: A teacher who fails or withdraws from a Specialist NPQ in Leading Teacher Development would be eligible for scholarship funding to take a different Specialist NPQ, such as Leading Teaching.

1. I am unable to complete my NPQ on the legacy (2017) suite. Will I be able to transfer partially completed training to the same (or equivalent) qualification under the new suite?
2. Participants on the legacy (2017) suite should be aware that they have until 31 August 2022 to complete their NPQ course. This includes submitting work for assessment and moderation. Participants on the legacy (2017) suite who are at risk of non-completion by August 2022 should, in the first instance, contact their provider to discuss the support available to enable them to complete. The reformed (2021) NPQs have been designed to be substantially different from the 2017 suite, therefore legacy participants will not have the opportunity to transfer partially completed training to a qualification under the new suite. Participants who are unable to complete their qualifications under the legacy (2017) suite will be required to reapply for and restart the new training.

1. Can participants take multiple leadership NPQs under the new suite?
2. The new suite of NPQs is designed to provide training and support for teachers and leaders at all levels and through the entirety of a teacher’s career. Teachers are permitted to take more than one leadership NPQ to support their career progression, for example if they move to a more senior role. We would expect teachers to have successfully completed their NPQ before undertaking a further NPQ.

1. Can participants receive funding for multiple specialist NPQs under the new suite?
2. Teachers can take more than one specialist NPQ, for example if they move to a different role at the same level, but we would recommend that they review the frameworks to help inform their choice. We would expect teachers to have the backing of their school leader(s) when applying for these qualifications. 

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