This article will advise you on everything that Best Practice Network can support with regarding registering with the DfE for a NPQ programme. If you do not find the answer you are looking for, we recommend you contact the DfE directly for further support.
Please note, all participants must register with the DfE and have a Teacher Reference Number (TRN) to obtain a DfE accredited certificate upon successful completion of the programme. If you do not already have a TRN then you can proceed with your DfE registration, and you will be contacted at a later date to obtain a TRN.
I have not registered with the DfE yet
How do I register?
Go to service start page and click “start now” to begin a new DfE registration.
- If you have a OneLogin you will be able to sign in using your email address, password and authenticator app.
- If you do not yet have a OneLogin, you will need to create one before you can proceed (see further down ‘Creating a OneLogin’).
- Complete the following pages:
- Select your NPQ cohort, please refer to your BPN application or contact us you are if unsure of this
- Confirm that you have chosen an NPQ and Best Practice Network as your provider
- Confirm the details of your school/setting (and if in the UK, check the URN is correct)
- Select your NPQ programme. Please ensure this matches the NPQ programme that you have applied for, otherwise you will need to complete a new registration.
- If you have applied for one of the Leader Apprenticeships with NPQ – please register the NPQ part of the qualification with the DfE.
- You will be asked to select your NPQ provider, please ensure you select “Best Practice Network”
- You will be given the opportunity to review your answers before submitting your registration. Once complete, the confirmation screen will tell you to apply with your chosen provider – you have already done this, so you do not need to make a new one
Creating a OneLogin:
You’ll need to prove your identity with GOV.UK One Login to use the DfE registration service. If you do not already have a OneLogin, you will need to create this from the DfE registration page.
To create your OneLogin you will need:
- An email address
- A way to get security codes – either a UK phone number or an authenticator app
- Relevant proof of identity
More information about creating your OneLogin is available here.
If you have any questions, or require help with this process, you can contact the OneLogin team here.
BPN are asking me to register, but I’ve completed this step already
This is likely because your TRN or school URN on your DfE application do not match the ones on your BPN application, and therefore we’re unable to identify you in the system. These details must match to be valid. Please double check your DfE registration against your BPN application answers.
If you notice there are discrepancies, either tell us the details to update your application with or create a new DfE registration with the correct details. You will not be able to edit an existing DfE registration and must complete a new one.
If you’re still unsure, please provide us with the details.
Scholarship funded:
Please note, if you are scholarship funded, your funded place is not confirmed until this step is complete.
Once we confirm that you have been allocated a scholarship funded place, you will receive a funding link to confirm your intention to use this funding. You have 5 working days to follow to link and confirm your funding. After this time, the link will expire, and this place may be allocated to another participant in your area. This is to ensure all scholarships are allocated to participant who are committed to starting the programme. You can keep an eye on your application progress here, including whether you have successfully confirmed your funding.
If you’re eligible for scholarship funding but we do not have any places in your area, we would have let you know via email and advised on additional funding routes for you, such as self or school funded. Alternatively, our Leader Apprenticeship with NPQs are a great way to access the Leadership NPQs at no cost to you as a learner! Find out more in this article.
Self or school funded:
We’re awaiting payment from you (self-funded) or your invoice contact (school funded). Please note, you will not be able to start the programme without an initial payment.
I have registered with the DfE with another provider
You must ensure that you have registered with the correct provider. Only one provider can access your funding, and once a provider accesses your DfE details, the system will block your funding for all other providers.
If you register with the DfE more than once with more than one provider, this puts you at risk of starting your NPQ programme without funding. Providers can request with the DfE for your funding to be transferred over, however it is a long process and preferably avoided to mitigate delaying your programme start.
If you have registered with other providers and want to check if BPN has your funding secured, please let us know.