New for 2026 — School Improvement Programme: a levy-funded Level 6 route for improvement leaders. Find out more
Whether you're a primary, secondary, all-through, grammar, faith, independent, SEND, alternative provision or early years setting, NCE helps you turn your apprenticeship levy into a grow-your-own pipeline, retention strategy and CPD offer that sits inside your school development plan, not alongside it.
At a glance
600+
Single-school partners across England
94%
Learners still employed by their school 12 months on
8 wks
Typical time from first call to first learning session
97%
Learner retention to completion
The workforce reality
Every partnership starts with a clear-eyed conversation about what is actually broken, not a generic apprenticeship pitch.
Most single schools under-spend their annual levy and hand funds back to the Treasury after 24 months, or 12 months if added after 31st July 2026. A structured workforce plan turns that pot into people, not lost pounds.
Recruiting classroom, SEND and pastoral staff is harder and more expensive every year. Apprenticeship pathways lift retention by turning entry roles into a visible career.
Heads and business managers cannot run cohorts, off-the-job tracking and DAS admin on top of the day job. You need a partner who owns the machinery, not another supplier to manage.
Boards ask for evidence that CPD spend moves outcomes, retention and equalities data. Ad-hoc training does not answer that question. A structured programme does.
How we work with you
Step 01
A working session with your head, business manager and CPD lead, priorities, staffing risks, levy forecast and school development plan.
Step 02
We map standards to roles across your school, agree the cohort, mentor and observation model and set the calendar around your term rhythm.
Step 03
Blended, in-role learning with subject mentors, dedicated tutors and evidence built through real classroom practice, not busywork.
Step 04
Termly impact reviews against the outcomes you agreed at Discovery, plus governor-ready reporting on levy, learners and progression.
What we bring
Every listed apprenticeship is fully covered by your levy. Non-levy schools access a 95% government contribution, we handle the paperwork end to end.
Turn TAs, cover supervisors and pastoral staff into your next generation of teachers, SENCOs and phase leads through structured, funded progression.
One senior NCE contact who knows your head, your priorities and your calendar. No ticket queues, no rotating account managers.
A single termly dashboard covering levy status, learner progress, off-the-job compliance and outcomes, drop-in ready for FGB and committee packs.
The 2024/25 funding reforms have changed what's possible - and what's expected from your workforce. Budgets are tighter. Statutory demands haven't gone away. This is the moment to plan differently.
Outcomes you can plan around
Every partnership is underpinned by an outcomes framework agreed at the start, so you can report impact back to boards, members and elected officials with confidence.
Most requested by schools
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
Level 6 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
“It’s been really useful for us as an organisation in terms of what learners are bringing back from their programmes. Their thinking, leading CPD and initiatives as part of the course are directly benefiting us. It’s a win win.”
Sector FAQs
Share your context, team, levy position, priorities, and we will come back with a tailored partnership proposal within five working days.
We're happy to help. Get in touch with our team. Real people, real answers, no pressure.
