National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH)

Ambition Institute has designed this ground-breaking NPQ to help you put evidence-based school leadership methods into practice and drive change in your school setting. It will also focus on specific headship challenges in your school or trust.

Ambitions 'little and often' approach uses the latest research to help you apply your learning to persistent problems. You will train alongside other leaders with similar responsibilities, with content focusing on the key challenges you face in your role.

With no project work and minimal time out of school, the new NPQs are designed to fit around your busy timetable.

Benefits for you

Enjoy flexible learning

This programme is designed to fit around your timetable and most of the work can be completed at times that suit you.

Learn crucial skills and sector knowledge

All the knowledge you’ll learn on this programme is drawn from a single, evidence-based framework shared by other educators across England.

Learning that sticks

Training is delivered little and often, in regular bite-sized chunks, so there are no long days of training that take you away from your day job. Learning in short, sharp bursts also helps you to retain knowledge.

Thrive in your school setting

Develop the knowledge and skills to work to the best of your ability and tackle the complexities and challenges of your daily role.

Drive habit change

Embedding new habits can be tricky. Our dual modules help you to apply what you learn, connecting theory to practice, to help those habits stick. Insight modules capture the very best the sector has to contribute on a given topic. Application modules help you to use the ideas in context, with support from peers.

Benefits for your school or trust

Create confident school leaders

Headteachers are equipped with school-focused leadership knowledge, which they can use to establish a culture and conditions where staff and pupils can thrive.

Underpinned by the latest evidence

The framework for the new NPQ for Headship was developed using the latest evidence on effective professional development for teachers and leaders, approved by the Education Endowment Fund (EFF).

Shared learning

Participants learn alongside colleagues whose context is similar, facilitated by delivery partners who know and understand your needs.

Create a common knowledge base

All our NPQs are aligned, meaning teachers and leaders share a common language and framework to drive improvement in their school.

Transform pupil outcomes

Education Policy Institute research shows that high quality professional development can improve pupil outcomes almost as effectively as having a teacher with 10 years’ experience in the classroom.*

What you'll learn

This programme follows the Department for Educations’ National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Headship Framework.

You will learn how to:

1. set clear goals and communicate shared values that improve classroom and school culture
2. transform pupils’ knowledge, capabilities and beliefs about learning
3. create a fair and structured approach to learning and testing
4. establish a safe and positive environment for pupils
5. support colleagues to meet individual needs and make sure all pupils have access to a rich curriculum
6. lead school-wide professional development for staff
7. establish good financial, human and educational resource management
8. make and act on evidence-informed decisions
9. work well with parents, carers, other schools and the wider community
10. lead by example, be accountable for decisions and make sure staff know their professional responsibilities.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

How you'll learn

The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes real-time, interactive online sessions, Covid-safe face-to-face conferences and self-guided modules you can fit around your timetable. You will put what you learn into practice in your school and be able to track your progress and get feedback as you go. The programme also includes coaching and peer learning.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme and runs for three months. During this time, participants will be given an eight-day window to sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which they respond to a short case study.

There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can sit the assessment two times, if they need to.

You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.

Ambition Institute will offer a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support participants.

NPQs are currently fully funded to eligible participants. The criteria for DfE-funded scholarships can be found here.

To apply, you must be or aspire to be a headteacher or head of school with a responsibility for leading a school.

Find out more by getting in touch with us.

Apply here