National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
On 1 April 2004, new regulations came in making the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) mandatory for all new head teachers.
All those appointed to their first headship post in the LEA-maintained sector, including nursery schools, and in non-maintained special schools, need to hold the NPQH, or be working towards it. The Guidance on the mandatory requirement to hold the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) will help you understand and interpret the regulations.
Recognition of qualifications of EEA and Swiss nationals
Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome provides for the free movement of
workers between EU member states. To comply with this provision, from 30
April 2005, the Education (Head Teachers' Qualifications) (England)
Regulations 2003 have been amended so that headteacher qualifications
comparable to NPQH obtained in Switzerland or any European Economic Area
(EEA) country are deemed sufficient to qualify a person to serve as a
headteacher of a maintained or non-maintained special school in
England.
Applicants for first-time headship posts with professional qualifications from the EEA should note that National College for School Leadership (NCSL) has responsibility for determining whether or not qualifications that have been obtained after successfully completing a programme or course of professional training for head teachers in Switzerland or any EEA country are comparable to NPQH. Applicants for first-time headship posts in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England with comparable qualifications will be treated in the same way as if they held the NPQH. For the full wording of the amendment download the 'Amendment to NPQH guidance' document from the bottom left-hand side of the Online Publications page.
Preparing for headship
The NPQH was introduced in 1997, and is a practical professional qualification
firmly rooted in school improvement, which prepares senior teachers and
aspiring heads for headship. The programme offers challenging and relevant
training including online learning, school-based assessment and visits to
successful schools.
Based on the National standards for headteachers, it takes between six months and two years to achieve, depending on candidates' experience and expertise. Currently, around 5,000 candidates enrol on the programme each year.
Working towards NPQH
'Working towards NPQH' means that, prior to their headship
appointment, appointees must have successfully applied for a place on the NPQH.
This is a transitional measure aimed to ease in the mandatory requirement and
will be in place for the first five years only. Thus from 1 April 2009, holding
the NPQH will be a pre-appointment requirement.
- The requirement will not apply to serving head teachers, either in the maintained sector or at an independent school, in the UK or abroad, who were appointed prior to 1 April 2004.
The legal powers to make NPQH mandatory are contained in section 135 of the Education Act 2002.
Further information
NCSL provides further information about the NPQH, the routes through the
programme, costs, and benefits as well as online application packs and
self-assessment exercises. If you have any queries on the guidance or
regulations please email npqh.mandatory@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk.
