Based on current forecasts, the DfE have confirmed that they hope to be able to continue to fund programmes for eligible participants which start in the spring term (January – March 2019). However, they cannot guarantee this, participants starting earlier in the term are more likely to be funded under the current criteria (participants from schools in category 5 and 6 areas).

If you are keen to access a funded place, please apply by 12 December and the DfE will endeavour to confirm if funding is available before your programme commences.  Applications received after 12 December may still receive funding but we will not be able to confirm this before the programme starts.

At any point next term, the DfE reserves the right to implement the following prioritisation criteria:

  1. NPQ course participants working in a school in an Opportunity Area[1], where the school is also below the Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 4 floor standards;
  2. All other NPQ course participants working in Opportunity Areas;
  3. NPQ course participants working in schools where more than 30% of pupils receive free school meals; and
  4. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) NPQ course participants.

[1] The 12 Opportunity Areas are: Blackpool, Derby, Norwich, Oldham, Scarborough, West Somerset, Bradford, Doncaster, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire, Hastings, Ipswich and Stoke-on-Trent