National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)

From 1 April 2009 it becomes mandatory to have completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) prior to appointment to a first substantive headship.

From 1 April 2004, it became mandatory for all first-time headteachers appointed to a post in the maintained sector to hold the NPQH. Until 31 March 2009 there is a transitional arrangement allowing those with a place on the programme to be appointed to a first headship. However, from 1 April 2009 only those who have successfully completed NPQH will be able to be appointed to their first substantive headship position.

The NPQH application round which opens on 10th April 2007 is the last which allows those following the Accelerated Programme Route to complete NPQH in time to take part in an application and interview process in the Autumn of 2008 so as to take up a first substantive headship in April 2009.

There are timelines on the NCSL website illustrating this.

Those aspiring to take up their first substantive headship from April 2009 and who have not yet started their NPQH must, therefore, act now if they are to complete their NPQH in time.

Further details about the NPQH programme can be found on the NCSL website at . If, after visiting the website, you still have questions about NPQH, then please contact David Orsborne who will be pleased to try to help. He can be contacted at the Norwich Professional Development Centre on 01603 433276.