Information for headteachers and governors

More than half of the country’s headteachers will be reaching retirement within the next five to ten years. NCSL needs to work with headteachers and governors in order to sustain the flow of high quality school leaders to ensure the best outcomes for children, young people and their families. The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) aims to develop sufficient high quality headteachers for the future, and headteachers and governors have a vital role to play.

Benefits of the redesigned NPQH for schools

• Through personalisation and self-directed learning, school leaders on NPQH will be more aware of their individual strengths and areas for development, and committed to undertaking whole-school responsibilities.
• Through supporting those with the potential for headship, headteachers have the opportunity to demonstrate their confidence in the next generation of school leaders.
• Through enabling those very close to headship to focus on their own development, the school has an opportunity to enable others to step up to leadership and management roles.
• Through hosting short placements for trainee headteachers, schools will have an opportunity to gain an external perspective on the organisation’s strengths and areas for improvement.
• By helping to increase the number of confident and competent aspiring headteachers who are able to meet the needs of a variety of school settings, schools will be able to fill headship vacancies with high quality NPQH graduates appropriate for their context.
• Those entering headship will understand the shared strategic partnership between the headteacher and the school governors.

How can headteachers help?

As a headteacher, you have a vital role to play in encouraging those with leadership potential to aspire to headship. You can help to grow the next generation of school leaders by:

• being an ambassador for the headship role
• talking to potential headteachers in your school about what you do
• sharing your experience and leadership expertise
• identifying and encouraging those with headship potential through performance management
• assisting them in reflecting on their readiness for headship
• giving open, honest feedback about strengths and development needs
• supporting them in making an application
• contributing to the 360° diagnostic process
• supporting and coaching them as they work through their NPQH development plan
• enabling them to address development needs through activities within and beyond the school

How can headteachers get involved in the delivery of NPQH?

As well as supporting aspiring headteachers in your own school, you can get involved in NPQH in a number of ways:

• Become an NPQH assessor or coach – contact our regional providers to find out more.
• Host short placements for trainee headteachers by registering your school as an NPQH Leadership Development School.
• Contribute to our online communities by delivering a hotseat or online seminar – please email [email protected] for more details.

How can governors help?

As a governor, you have a vital role to play in ensuring there are sufficient leaders who are ready to take up the complex and challenging role of headship. You will know from your own experience the importance of strong leadership from an effective headteacher. You may even be a governor in one of the many schools that has experienced difficulties in recruiting a headteacher.

If we are to sustain the flow of high quality new headteachers, we need the support of governors who understand that encouraging leadership potential is beneficial to all schools. We hope that you will want to make a contribution to the wider education system and the national strategy to recruit headteachers for 21st century schools:

• Encouraging those with the potential to aspire to school leadership roles, including headship.
• Supporting the headteacher of your school in coaching NPQH trainee headteachers.
• Welcoming NPQH trainee headteachers from other schools for short placements.

More information

Download our information for heads and line managers of applicants booklet (172kb, 8 pages)

Download our information for governors booklet (180kb, 8 pages)

If you wish to order copies of either of these leaflets, please email [email protected].