Target audience: The programme will be available to all experienced school leaders who believe that they demonstrate attainment against the Professional Standards for Teaching & Leadership and for whom headship is a realistic next step.

The Aspiring Head Teacher Development Programme (Preparing for NPQH) is a national programme which is delivered by regional consortia on behalf of Welsh government. NPQH is a statutory qualification for headship in Wales. Completion of this programme is an expectation for all NPQH applicants. 

The programme has been endorsed by the National Academy of Educational Leadership with opportunity for accreditation in partnership with UWTSD and Bangor universities. 

Initial success criteria will be measured against the extent to which candidates:

• attend all dates and complete all elements of the agreed programme

• communicate effectively with programme leaders and colleagues on the programme

• lead and manage a school improvement project (Leadership Experience Task) in line with the school development plan

• be proactive in seeking opportunities for additional responsibility and experiences

• complete the relevant sections of the Commitments to Act log at regular intervals

• engage with the allocated Leadership Coach and peer support network

• review and reflect on the Individual Standards Self-Review both pre and post programme

• complete all tasks including their Leadership Experience Task

• apply to undertake assessment under the NPQH process.

Event details:

This programme is a professional learning opportunity for aspiring headteachers in preparation for undertaking the assessment required for the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).   It is a five-module programme that will be delivered over the calendar year, commencing at the start of the Spring Term 2023 and being completed by the end of the Autumn Term 2023.  This will then be followed by NPQH assessment in early 2024.

The modules of the Aspiring Headteachers Development Programme are as follows:

• Module 1: Making a Difference

• Module 2: Leadership (i) incl. Leadership styles

• Module 3: Leadership (ii) incl. safeguarding/ H&S / Managing Finance & Resources

• Module 4: Leading Pedagogy

• Module 5: Effective Development of the School workforce

Each module addresses a significant component of effective school leadership and will utilise a range of approaches ensuring a quality experience for the participants. These will be delivered by a regional consortia delivery team. 

Each individual participant will be allocated a Leadership Coach, a headteacher, other than from their school, who will not only work with the participant on a one-one basis but will also ensure the formation and effective working of a peer network that will address key issues and work collaboratively to share best practice.

Upon completing programme modules, participants will be expected to apply to undertake the NPQH assessment process.

 As part of their application, participants will submit the following:

• Self-review against the Leadership Standards (LSR)

• A summary of an agreed Leadership Experience Task

• A record of the participant’s professional journey

Participants will be invited to the Partneriaeth NPQH Assessment Centre in late January/ early February, where they will undertake a series of interviews and presentations with panels of experienced headteachers, who will assess whether participants have met the criteria to be awarded NPQH status. 

This will be the final cohort to go through this programme in its current format.

Welsh Government, in collaboration with other stakeholders are in the process of developing new NPQH arrangements, by which a new programme will be in place for Autumn 2024. Further details about this new NPQH programme will be issued in due course. 

For further Information please contact:

Rob Phillips Interim Lead for Leadership phillipsr145@hwbcymru.net

Hazel Faulkner Business Support Officer hazel.faulkner@partneriaeth.cymru