National Institute of Teaching

What National Institute of Teaching does

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) is a registered charity (charity number 1202423) operating as a Higher Education Institution in England under the School-Led Development Trust. Founded in 2022 by four large Multi-Academy Trusts — Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and Star Academies — NIoT delivers teacher training and professional development across the full career span, from initial teacher training through to executive school leadership. Its product portfolio includes Initial Teacher Training (ITT) leading to QTS and PGCE, the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA), an Ofsted 'Outstanding' Early Career Framework (ECF) programme, ten National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) covering specialist teaching and leadership pathways, Early Headship Coaching, the Excellence in Reception Teaching Programme, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. From August 2025 it also holds New Degree Awarding Powers from the Office for Students, allowing it to award its own PGCE qualifications (UKPRN 10090839). It operates a 'Teacher Education Laboratory' model combining original research synthesis with practitioner-led programme design, and publishes evidence through an Evidence Portal for the wider sector.

NIoT runs six regional campuses across England — Wakefield (headquarters), Blackburn, London, Birmingham, Bristol, Doncaster, and Redcar — alongside a network of Associate Colleges that extend delivery into additional regions. Its core technology is a research-informed teacher development platform that combines evidence synthesis with practical classroom application, plus a digital Evidence Portal and the Centre for Digital Information Literacy in Schools, a Pears Foundation-funded initiative launched in 2025 to address misinformation and conspiracy beliefs in classrooms.

Revenue comes primarily from regulated tuition fees (full-time ITT at £9,790 per year, part-time at £7,335), DfE scholarship funding for NPQ programmes (covering state-funded school participants, with expanded funding from November 2026), DfE bursaries and scholarships of up to £31,000 tax-free for high-priority ITT subjects, and DfE-funded places on programmes such as the Excellence in Reception Teaching Programme. The institution is governed by the School-Led Development Trust, with the CEOs of the four founding MATs serving on the Board alongside senior figures from higher education, regulation, and policy, and its day-to-day leadership team is led by CEO Melanie Renowden with a COO (Amrit Singh) drawn from financial services and a CTO (Mark Osborne) with two decades of education IT experience.

Name

National Institute of Teaching

Legal name

School-Led Development Trust

Website

https://niot.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The National Institute of Teaching is a UK charity and Higher Education Institution, founded in 2022 by four major Multi-Academy Trusts, delivering research-informed teacher training, professional development, and education research across England through six regional campuses and an Associate College network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Training & Professional Development

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Professional Development & In-Service Training Institutes (EDAHAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG), Instructional Coaching & Teacher Professional Learning (School-Embedded) (EDAJAFAO), In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• Teacher training programmes
• Professional development education
• Initial teacher training
• National professional qualifications
• Education research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wakefield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Initial Teacher Training: Full-time teacher training courses charged at £9,790 per year; part-time courses at £7,335 per year. PGTA route available with QTS only award, PGCE optional for additional fee.
2. NPQ Programme Funding: NPQ courses are funded through DfE scholarships for eligible participants in state-funded settings. Expanded scholarship funding available regardless of pupil premium eligibility for NPQH, NPQSENCO, NPQSL, and NPQEYL from November 2026.
3. Bursaries and Scholarships: DfE bursaries and scholarships available up to £31,000 tax-free for many ITT courses. Salaried routes also available for candidates with strong academics and relevant experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) is a school-led Higher Education Institution that delivers teacher training and professional development programmes across England. Its core offering spans Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships leading to Qualified Teacher Status and PGCE, the Early Career Framework (ECF) programme for new teachers, ten National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) covering specialist teaching and leadership development, executive-level programmes such as the School Trust CEO programme, and applied education research. NIoT also operates as the higher education partner for Teach First's Teach Lead Change programme.

Product overview

National Institute of Teaching offers a unified portfolio of teacher and leader professional development programmes, ranging from Initial Teacher Training through to executive leadership. The core offerings include: Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship for aspiring teachers; the Early Career Teacher (ECT) programme and Excellence in Reception Teaching for practicing teachers; ten National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) spanning specialist teaching areas (Leading Teaching, Literacy, Behaviour, Primary Maths) and leadership levels (Early Years, Senior, Head, Executive); plus the Early Headship Coaching programme. All ITT programmes award QTS and PGCE (60 Master's credits) - the latter now awarded directly by NIoT following its 2025 degree awarding powers grant. A distinctive initiative is the Centre for Digital Information Literacy in Schools addressing misinformation education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Initial Teacher Training (ITT) School-centred teacher training programme where aspiring teachers are in the classroom from day one with one day of central training each week. Leads to Qualified Teacher Status and PGCE with 60 Master's-level credits. Designed for graduates, career changers and apprentices seeking to become qualified teachers across primary, secondary and early years phases.
• Early Career Teacher (ECT) Programme Structured support programme aligned with the Early Career Framework, providing newly qualified teachers with expert guidance during their first two years of teaching to become confident, capable classroom practitioners. Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding' in all areas.
• NPQ for Leading Teaching National Professional Qualification developing knowledge of effective teaching practices and the ability to lead whole-school teaching improvement.
• NPQ in Leading Teacher Development NPQ deepening knowledge of evidence-informed practices and how to help colleagues embed effective teaching methods.
• NPQ in Leading Literacy Specialist NPQ exploring the best research on literacy instruction and how to apply it across various school contexts.
• NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture NPQ developing expertise to become a behaviour specialist helping children develop the attitudes and habits for success.
• NPQ in Leading Primary Maths Specialist NPQ building on existing maths knowledge to lead colleagues in effective maths delivery at primary level.
• NPQ in Early Years Leadership NPQ developing knowledge of how children learn and the ability to create thriving early years environments.
• NPQ in Senior Leadership NPQ developing strategic and operational skills needed to create the conditions for colleagues and children to flourish.
• NPQ in Headship Comprehensive NPQ providing crucial knowledge for success in the complex and challenging headteacher role.
• NPQ for Executive Leadership (School Trust CEO Programme) Executive-level NPQ deepening knowledge of key leadership areas to help shape schools serving community needs effectively, targeted at trust CEOs and aspiring executives.
• NPQ for SENCOs NPQ covering statutory requirements and best practice on inclusion to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
• Early Headship Coaching (EHCO) Programme Structured, unassessed face-to-face support programme for new leaders in their first five years of headship.
• Excellence in Reception Teaching Programme Two-term professional development programme for reception teachers focusing on language, literacy, early maths and child development. DfE funded places available for most state-funded settings.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Postgraduate teaching qualification with 60 Master's-level credits, awarded directly by NIoT since September 2025 following the grant of degree awarding powers. Integrated with ITT programmes.
• Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) Employment-based route into teaching for those already working in schools. Leads to QTS and optional PGCE with University of Birmingham, with QTS only or QTS plus PGCE awards available.
• Centre for Digital Information Literacy in Schools National centre tackling online misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy beliefs in schools. Includes teacher training, leadership qualifications, school governance training, online learning modules, and practical classroom resources. Funded by Pears Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ofsted 'Outstanding' in all areas for Early Career Framework programme
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Teach FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026NIoT is supporting Teach First in delivering the Teach Lead Change programme following DfE contract award. NIoT delivers the PGCE and trainee support services, contributing research and school-led insights. The programme will train 1,000 new teachers annually from September 2027, focusing on regions with highest educational inequality.
• South Yorkshire Teaching HubmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 October 2025New partnership announced in October 2025. Hosted by Chorus Education Trust, designated as one of 87 national Teaching School Hubs, bringing together teaching expertise from over 318 schools across Sheffield, Rotherham and wider South Yorkshire.
• Harris FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding MATs of NIoT. CEO Sir Dan Moynihan serves as Chair of NIoT Board. Harris Federation runs 52 academies in London and Essex, training thousands of teachers annually through its teaching school hubs.
• Oasis Community LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding MATs of NIoT. CEO John Barneby serves as director of NIoT. Runs 52 academies across the UK with 4,400 staff members.
• Outwood Grange Academies TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding MATs of NIoT. CEO Lee Wilson serves as director of NIoT. Recognised as one of highest performing school families in North England with over 40 schools.
• Star AcademiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding MATs of NIoT. CEO Sir Hamid Patel serves as Deputy Chair of NIoT Board. Runs primary and secondary schools in Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Midlands and East London.
• University of BirminghammajorTechnology or IntegrationValidating partner since NIoT's inception. NIoT gained its own degree awarding powers from August 2025, but University of Birmingham validation continues for some programmes including PGTA.
• Newcastle UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner providing academic expertise and research collaboration capabilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ark Teacher Training: School-led initial teacher training provider (part of Ark, a multi-academy trust), directly comparable to NIoT in school-centred ITT model and target trainee profile.
• Education Development Trust: UK-headquartered education charity delivering school improvement, ITT and teacher development programmes internationally; overlaps with NIoT in teacher professional development for state-funded schools.
• Teach First: UK teacher-training charity recruiting graduates into disadvantaged schools — a direct competitor in mission and candidate pool, and now also NIoT's partner on the Teach Lead Change programme.
• Best Practice Network: Specialist UK teacher training and NPQ provider offering ECF, NPQs and ITT programmes, overlapping directly with NIoT's product set and serving similar schools and MAT customers.
• Ambition Institute: UK charity delivering Early Career Framework (ECF), National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) and school leadership development, directly competing with NIoT for the same state-funded school contracts and trainee pool.

Others

• Star Academies: One of NIoT's four founding MATs and operator of the predecessor Star Institute teacher development centre; comparable as a school-led provider and training partner feeding into NIoT's pipeline.
• Harris Federation Teaching School Hubs: Harris Federation's school-led CPD/ITT delivery arm — one of NIoT's four founding MATs — providing placement infrastructure and teacher development that now feeds NIoT's cohorts.
• Outwood Institute of Education: Outwood Grange Academies Trust's in-house professional learning network and predecessor to NIoT's ECF/NPQ work in the North; now an Associate College relationship rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• University of Birmingham School of Education: Major UK university provider of PGCE and education research; currently NIoT's validating partner for some programmes (e.g., PGTA), and a broader incumbent across the ITT market.
• UCL Institute of Education (UCL IOE): Large, established university provider of PGCE, ITT, ECF and school leadership programmes in the UK; a long-standing incumbent against which NIoT must compete for trainees, faculty credibility and school placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NatInstTeaching
• Facebookfacebook.com/National-Institute-of-Teaching-105324442132187
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-institute-of-teaching

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Institute of Teaching