Program Overview

NPQH: National Professional Qualification for Headship

The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is a program designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.

About the Programme

The UCL Centre for Educational Leadership looks forward to working with participants on their newly designed NPQ, supporting them to deepen their knowledge of Headship within a collaborative and open learning environment. Based on the latest research and evidence, this new program will enable participants to take their new learning and develop their skills and put them into practice.

What Will You Learn?

Participants will learn about the following key areas:

• School Culture: establishing and sustaining an effective school culture by setting the strategic direction, managing human and financial resources, and fulfilling all statutory duties to enable a sustainable and thriving school community.
• Teaching: establishing and supporting effective teaching across the school to develop and embed teachers' pedagogical knowledge and classroom skills to enable the best outcomes for all children and young people.
• Curriculum and Assessment: supporting and sustaining high-quality planning, teaching, learning, and assessment by ensuring the implementation of effective and coherent policies.
• Behaviour and Support: establishing and sustaining high standards of behaviour and learning across the whole school community, including liaising with and training key stakeholders to ensure a safe, inclusive learning environment for all.
• Implementation: implementing change successfully within the context by understanding the stages of implementation and aligning it with wider school improvement priorities.

Benefits to You

Participants have outlined many benefits to studying for an NPQH, including:

• Developing the skills, confidence, and knowledge to implement new professional development initiatives successfully.
• Challenging pre-conceived ideas and understanding how to develop a culture in a school.
• Strengthening and affirming thinking and understanding of high-quality leadership approaches.
• Learning how to provide a framework that encourages a safe, sustainable learning culture for pupil progress.
• Accessing research and materials and having many opportunities to discuss a variety of professional development approaches and models with other teachers.

Benefits for Your School

The program has been developed with teachers and leaders to:

• Create professionally confident teachers and leaders.
• Grow the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to use the evidence-base for the benefit of their children and young people.
• Retain the best teachers who are excellent, collaborative role models for their schools and communities.
• Inspire leaders who can harness the power of rich learning environments for their children and young people.

Is This Programme for Me?

This program is suitable for those who aspire to leading a school as a head of school or headteacher. Please note that the NPQ programs require a level of proficiency in the use of English equivalent to that of Master's level study.

How Long Will It Take?

The program will take 18 months, followed by an eight-day open book summative case study task.

When Will It Start and How Much Will It Cost?

The program will start in November 2025, with an induction conference taking place in November/December 2025. The program fee is £1,855 (+VAT) for participants and schools in England who are required to self-fund.

Are Scholarships Available for This Programme?

Information for scholarship funding can be found at GOV.UK.

Programme Route Map

The program consists of three modules, each lasting six months, with a final assessment preparation and summative assessment at the end. The modules include self-directed study, facilitated activities, and face-to-face events.

Route Map (Text Version)

• NPQ Programme Induction: Watch online program information webinars and attend an induction conference.
• Module 1 (6 months): Self-directed study, online self-directed study, peer learning group, face-to-face event, formative assessment tasks, and NPQ mentor check-in.
• Module 2 (6 months): Self-directed study, online self-directed study, face-to-face event, peer learning group, formative assessment tasks, and NPQ mentor check-in.
• Module 3 (6 months): Self-directed study, online self-directed study, face-to-face event, peer learning group, formative assessment tasks, and NPQ mentor check-in.
• Final Assessment Preparation: Ensure 90% engagement and access to the assessment platform.
• Final Summative Assessment: An eight-day open book summative case study task.

What Do Participants Say?

Participants have reported that the program has given them professional confidence, time, and space to reflect on themselves and the kind of leader they want to become, and increased knowledge in their chosen area of study.