National Professional Qualification for Headship

• Headteacher
• Head of school
• Director of Teaching School
• Deputy Headteacher / Vice Principal / Assistant Headteacher

*NPQs aren’t suitable for active Early Career Teachers

The NPQH course follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification: Headship.

On this programme, you will learn how to:

• Set clear goals and communicate shared values that improve classroom and school culture
• Lead effective implementation in educational settings
• Lead effective professional development to improve practice and outcomes for pupils
• Support colleagues to meet individual needs and make sure all pupils have access to a rich curriculum
• Lead school-wide professional development for staff
• Establish good financial, human and educational resource management
• Make and act on evidence-informed decisions
• Work well with parents, carers, other schools and the wider community
• Lead by example, be accountable for decisions and make sure staff know their
  professional responsibilities

The NPQH is designed so you can engage in live, facilitated sessions alongside modules you can complete at any time.

Over 18 months, our NPQH includes:

• A school visit
• Two full day conferences (6hrs each)
• Nine courses (each course lasts six weeks and loosely aligned to a school half term)
• Each course includes six modules
• Seven two-hour clinics (facilitated sessions)
• One two-hour assessment clinic
• Five communities (1hr15mins group sessions)

The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes face-to-face sessions, a mix of real-time, interactive online sessions and self-guided modules you complete in your own time. The programme includes facilitator-led sessions with your peer group that focus on decision making. The programme starts with a one-day live conference.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

• Learn crucial skills and sector knowledge – All the knowledge you’ll learn on this programme is drawn from a single, evidence-based framework shared by other educators across England
• Learning that sticks – Training is delivered little and often, in regular bite-sized chunks, so there are no long days of training that take you away from your day job. Learning in short, sharp bursts also helps you to retain knowledge
• Thrive in your school setting – Develop the knowledge and skills to work to the best of your ability and tackle the complexities and challenges of your daily role
• Drive habit change – Embedding new habits can be tricky. Our dual modules help you to apply what you learn, connecting theory to practice, to help those habits stick. Insight modules capture the very best the sector has to contribute on a given topic. Application modules help you to use the ideas in context, with support from peers
• Build your network – You’ll connect with other senior leaders, sharing your experiences and building a strong support network that lasts long after you finish the course

• Create confident school leaders – Headteachers are equipped with school-focused leadership knowledge, which they can use to establish a culture and conditions where staff and pupils can thrive
• Underpinned by the latest evidence – The framework for the new NPQ for Headship was developed using the latest evidence on effective professional development for teachers and leaders, approved by the Education Endowment Fund (EFF)
• Shared learning – Participants learn alongside colleagues whose context is similar, facilitated by delivery partners who know and understand your needs
• Create a common knowledge base – All our NPQs are aligned, meaning teachers and leaders share a common language and framework to drive improvement in their school

Our NPQ courses no longer include a large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.

The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme; during this time, you’ll be given an eight-day window to complete the case study.

There are two assessment windows every year, and participants have up to two opportunities to sit the assessment, if they need to.

You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.

There is a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you.

NEW for autumn 2024! DfE NPQ scholarship funding is available to all publicly funded schools and 16 to 19 educational organisations in England, for this NPQ.

DfE-funded scholarships are available for this NPQ for all those who meet the following criteria:

Are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for
leading a school

We expect more information to be provided by the Department for Education in the summer term.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ in Headship costs £1,949 plus VAT.