National Professional Qualification For Headship (NPQH)

Due to the interruption of the usual processes for the NPQH assessment, an additional ‘assessment only’ model is available for the 2020-2021 academic year. This is specifically to support those school leaders who are on the cusp of headship and expecting to apply for headship in the next 12 months. It is intended for those practitioners who are ready for assessment now and does not include any developmental support. Applicants will need to secure the endorsement of their Headteacher and of their region.

All prospective applicants for this programme should first consider the National Aspiring Headteacher Development Programme – Preparing for NPQH.

• Applications for NPQH 2020-21 including LSR should be returned to the Consortium by 1pm 18/09/2020

Information Briefing

To ensure practitioners are fully informed, a briefing PowerPoint is available and we recommend that all practitioners considering application should view this. Wherever possible, we recommend that Headteachers also view this so as to be fully informed of their role in the endorsement process.

NPQH Assessment Only 2020-21

• The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is mandatory for all teachers moving into their first headship post in Wales.
• Future rounds of NPQH assessment will only be available following completion of the National Aspiring Headteacher Development Programme – Preparing for NPQH.

Should I apply for the NPQH (Assessment Only)?

The NPQH (Assessment Only) is specifically for practitioners who are actively seeking headship as their next post (within the next 12 months). In order to be considered for the NPQH candidates must be:

• qualified teachers, registered as teachers with the Education Workforce Council for Wales;
• suitably experienced practitioners who intend becoming serving headteachers in the very near future. Headship is their next career step (acting headteachers who are not aspiring to a substantive headship post are not eligible to participate);
• at a stage in their career where they are able to provide strong evidence to demonstrate significant experience of leadership at a whole school level and can demonstrate attainment against the Formal Leadership Standards (Professional standards for teaching and leadership)
• willing to share learning and development with support officers and other colleagues, including examples and case studies of the experiences undertaken during their career that have prepared them for headship.

Applying

• You should discuss your application, Leadership Standards Review (LSR) and Leadership Experience Task (LET) with your Headteacher who may wish to discuss it with the Challenge Adviser / Supporting Improvement Officer.
• Where you have the agreement of your headteacher they sign and complete the application and return it to you.
• You must forward your application, and all the supporting documents to the Consortium before 1pm 18/09/2020. The consortium will arrange for the Endorsing Officer to consider the application and make a recommendation.

As such, unsuccessful candidates from this NPQH Assessment Only model would need to apply for and complete a future round of the National Aspiring Headteacher Development Programme – Preparing for NPQH.

Endorsement

• Submitted applications will be considered through each region’s endorsement process.
• Where applicants gain endorsement, they will be allocated a Leadership Coach to support them in their preparation for the assessment centre.
• Where endorsement is not received, applicants are advised to consider applying to the Aspiring Headteacher Development Programme commencing January 2021.

Timetable

Should you have any queries regarding the above please contact your Regional Co-ordinator:

NPQH Documentation

The NPQH application pack for 2020-2021 is available online here and includes the following:

• Application Form 2020-21
• Leadership Standards Review (LSR)
• Leadership Task Experience Template
• Career Profile Template
• Professional Learning Record