The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is an 18-month Department for Education-accredited program for current or aspiring headteachers, combining face-to-face events, online learning, webinars, and coaching. Applicants need school support, teaching experience, and leadership aspirations. The curriculum covers school culture, teaching, SEND, governance, and more. Assessment includes a case-study task. Support includes a Leadership Performance Coach, with optional webinars and additional coaching for new headteachers. Applications are through Best Practice Network.
The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is a Department for Education (DfE)-accredited qualification for leaders who are, or aspire to be, headteachers or heads of school with responsibility for leading a school. The programme takes 18 months and combines face-to-face events, online learning, webinars and coaching.
Who can apply for the NPQH
The NPQH is suitable if you are a headteacher or head of school, or aspire to one of these roles. The role is primarily strategic and operational, working with and through colleagues, particularly the leadership team, to ensure every pupil receives an excellent education.
To apply for the NPQH, you need:
- support from your school or organisation
- a Teacher Reference Number
- at least two years of teaching experience
- leadership experience or aspirations
- to be 18 to 36 months away from applying for a headship role, if you are not already in post.
What you will study
The NPQH curriculum aligns with the DfE's NPQ Headship Framework. It covers:
- school culture
- teaching
- curriculum and assessment
- behaviour
- special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- professional development
- organisational management
- implementation
- partnerships
- governance.
Learning is sequenced across development cycles, with short courses and full courses. These include Leading Culture and Ethos, Leading Teaching, and Leading Organisational Effectiveness.
Each course is divided into modules covering subjects such as curriculum and assessment, and governance and accountability. You can read the NPQH qualification specification for further programme details.
How the NPQH is delivered
The NPQH uses a blended learning model. It includes five face-to-face events delivered through Best Practice Network's national delivery network, online study in Canvas, webinars and coaching.
The programme involves approximately 104 total learning hours, including 38 hours of online learning and six hours of coaching.
Face-to-face events take place at regional delivery centres across the country. You will typically attend with your local partner group or another geographically convenient group, subject to viability.
What support you will receive
Every NPQH participant has a Leadership Performance Coach as their main point of contact. Your coach provides ongoing advice and feedback, marks practice activities and formative assessment tasks, and helps you manage your workload.
How the NPQH is assessed
You must meet a minimum course engagement requirement and complete a summative case-study assessment. Check the NPQH qualification specification for the current minimum engagement requirement.
You have an eight-day window to complete the summative case-study assessment. The required length is 1,500 to 2,500 words.
How to apply for the NPQH
You can register your interest for an upcoming cohort and complete your application through Best Practice Network on the NPQH programme page.
Scholarship availability can change. Check the NPQH programme page for current scholarship information.
Who must approve your application
Your school or organisation must support your NPQH application. A headteacher, senior leadership team member, line manager or Chair of Governors must confirm their support as part of the DfE requirements.
What additional support is available for new headteachers
The Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) provides one-to-one coaching and expert-led mentoring for headteachers in their first five years.
What optional learning is available
You can attend a series of optional expert-led webinars as part of your NPQH. These webinars do not include any assessment.