Fully funded programmes available to schools in disadvantaged areas

Two leading education charities have announced a partnership to support teachers and school leaders to build leadership expertise and drive improvement in Birmingham schools.

Birmingham-based Services For Education, which works with 97% of Birmingham local authority schools, is partnering with Teach First, an education charity which has more than 20 years’ experience working with schools serving disadvantaged communities, developing teachers and leaders across England.

In partnership with Teach First, Services For Education will be delivering National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) – nationally recognised qualifications accredited by the Department for Education – that support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their career to develop leadership skills and improve outcomes for pupils.

This partnership will enable Services For Education, which for more than a decade has delivered expert training and development to teaching and support staff in schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands, to deliver a broader suite of both Specialist and Leadership NPQ courses. These include the fully funded National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership and National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Coordinator. Full funding for the other NPQs is available from the Department for Education for qualifying schools that meet their disadvantage criteria.

Teach First’s NPQ provision has been rated outstanding by Ofsted in all areas, highlighting expert curriculum design, strong leadership development, and effective application in schools. The programmes are designed to fit around full-time teaching, combining flexible online learning with practical application in school settings.

Jo Perrin, School Support Lead at Services For Education, said the partnership brought two like-minded, non-profit organisations together.

“At Services For Education, our aim as a charity is to use the power of learning and music to build confidence amongst children, young people, adults and communities across Birmingham and the West Midlands. This mirrors the aim of Teach First who believe that no child’s educational success should be limited by their socio-economic background,” said Jo.

“Together, we want to ensure every school has access to world-class leadership and every child has access to world-class teaching. These programmes will equip teachers and leaders with evidence-based strategies they can immediately apply in their classrooms and schools.”

The programmes have been designed to meet the needs of schools by including sessions that can be delivered outside normal teaching hours.

“These ‘twilight webinars’ ease the pressure on school budgets and reduce the need for costly external supply cover without disrupting the school day – which is a genuine win-win for schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts,” added Jo.

Chris Bateman, Head of Regional Partnerships – Central – at Teach First, said it would enable the charity to have a greater presence in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“Great teaching and strong leadership make the biggest difference to pupils’ life chances. We’re proud to be working with Services for Education on the NPQ programme to support the teachers and leaders in schools and settings across Birmingham.

“By investing in leadership development, we can enhance the knowledge and skills that educators need to make a lasting impact on their communities and ensure every child, regardless of their background, has access to a great education.”

Applications are now open for NPQs starting in November 2026. To find out more, visit: Services For Education Partners with Teach First: Funded NPQs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured: Jo Perrin, School Support Lead at Services For Education

About Services For Education

Services For Education is an education and training charity based in Birmingham, that brings music and learning to life. The organisation employs around 200 staff who deliver music tuition to children and provide expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. It works with more than 90% of all Birmingham schools and has an annual income of £7.1m (2024/2025). Part-funded by Arts Council England, it also operates its own fundraising and subsidised commercial activities. Services For Education works with more than 90% of Birmingham local authority schools.

Services For Education’s Music Service, teaches music to more than 28,000 children each year, reflecting Birmingham’s diverse population. Twenty-two percent of pupils it teaches have special needs, 35% are eligible for free school meals and more than 40% have English as an additional language. The Music Service also runs 113 free ensembles and provides more than 18,000 musical instruments free of charge, ensuring that children can access and enjoy making music together. In recent years, to enable children to develop musical skills and experience collaborative music-making, it has expanded its whole-class instrumental teaching. Each year, 12,500 children in Birmingham schools take part.

A highlight of the year is Services For Education’s annual Youth Proms at Symphony Hall that enables nearly 3,000 young musicians from schools throughout Birmingham to perform to an audience of more than 6,000 over four nights. The Music Service also runs music schools, operates a world music department, provides private music tuition for all ages, and works with partners to offer musical and choral opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

Services For Education’s School Support Service delivers expert training and development to teaching and support staff in schools across the West Midlands and increasingly across England.

It helps improve practice and ensures teachers are equipped to respond to changes in curriculum and policy. In 2024/25, 94% of head teachers rated its training as either good or excellent.

The organisation also delivers innovative programmes that support the physical and emotional wellbeing of children and young people through its Health for Life initiative which has been running for more than a decade. Learn more at www.servicesforeducation.co.uk

For further information on Services For Education:
David Clarke, Clarke Associates, (Public and media relations, Services For Education)
E: david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk;
M: 07808 735255

Issued on behalf of:
Services For Education
Unit 3 Holt Court
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
Aston
Birmingham B7 4AX