Selected leadership and management apprenticeships have now been confirmed as being defunded following a government review aimed at redirecting funding and training towards young people. This will directly affect schools’ leadership development plans. The earliest the changes are likely to take effect is September.
That makes this a sensible time for schools to review their plans.
What this could mean for Thrive leadership apprenticeships
Thrive currently offers two leadership apprenticeships funded through the levy. Both are built around the Level 5 Operations Manager standard, which sits within the leadership and management routes to be defunded.
The Operations Manager standard has been one of the most widely used leadership and management apprenticeships in recent years. Its popularity has supported leadership development across many sectors.
Our two leadership apprenticeships are:
- Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Apprenticeship (Level 5)
This programme supports colleagues who are leading whole-school approaches to wellbeing, behaviour and social and emotional development. Participants train as Thrive Licensed Practitioners, while also achieving the Level 5 Operations Manager standard.
- Thrive Advanced Practitioner Leadership Apprenticeship (Level 5)
This programme is designed for staff who have already trained as Thrive Practitioners and are ready to deepen their expertise and leadership. Participants progress to become Thrive Advanced Practitioners, train as Family Thrive course leaders, and also achieve the Level 5 Operations Manager standard.
Once this route has been defunded (earliest September 2026), schools will need to fund this level of development directly from their own budgets.
Why timing matters
At present, levy funding for these leadership apprenticeships remains in place.
For schools that already know which colleagues they want to progress, enrolling now secures funding under current rules and removes uncertainty from leadership development plans later in the year.
For schools building long-term wellbeing strategy, continuity matters. Leadership capacity takes time to grow. Protecting funded progression routes while they remain available is a practical step.
More than leadership training
A Thrive Apprenticeship is more than a qualification. It gives your setting a funded way to build real Thrive capacity - either by establishing the foundations of a Thrive School or by strengthening expertise where Thrive is already in place.
If your school is new to Thrive, the Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Apprenticeship provides a clear starting point. A member of staff trains as a Thrive Licensed Practitioner, and your setting gains access to Thrive-Online during the programme. That combination means you’re not just training one person - you’re putting in place structures for consistent assessment, action planning and a shared approach to social and emotional development.
If you’re already working with Thrive, the Thrive Advanced Practitioner Leadership Apprenticeship focuses on deeper expertise. It builds on existing practitioner training, strengthens leadership confidence and helps ensure Thrive is embedded in day-to-day practice.
In both cases, the apprenticeship strengthens the setting, not just the participant.
Independent ImpactEd evaluation has proven that the Thrive Approach improves behaviour, attendance, staff confidence and pupil wellbeing, alongside positive contributions to inspection evidence and wider school improvement priorities.
For many schools, it’s this practical blend of funded practitioner training, leadership development and measurable impact that makes the apprenticeship route such a strong option.
What to do next
If you are planning to progress colleagues through one of Thrive’s leadership apprenticeships, review your levy balance and confirm eligibility now.
Our next cohort begins in May, and applications close on 19th April 2026.
Encouraging suitable colleagues to apply before the deadline ensures places are secured while current funding arrangements remain in place.
