Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many participants there were in each recent intake of the National Professional Qualification for Headship programme; and what guidance is issued to participants in that programme on conducting their first round of monitoring and evaluating teachers in a new school.

In financial year 2012/13, 1202 participants commenced the NPQH programme. In financial year 2013/14, 1140 participants commenced the NPQH programme.

In the first half of the financial year 2014/15, 550 participants commenced the NPQH programme, there is a second application round opening on 11 December 2014. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/national-professional-qualification-for-headship-npqh#apply.

NCTL licensed the delivery of leadership development, including the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers to School led consortiums in 2012. The qualifications are developed around a leadership curriculum combining a range of essential and elective modules. All qualifications have a rigorous final assessment process.

There are no specific centrally-generated materials on the NPQH for participants on conducting their first round of monitoring and evaluating teachers in a new school. However the entry assessment process, which is administered by a commissioned provider, contains a leadership competence on “Holding to account”. Both this and the performance management of staff and appraisal are covered generically within the programme.

In addition, the NPQH Essential modules, ‘Leading an effective school’ and ‘Leading and improving teaching’, which are mandatory, include content on teacher quality and standards, monitoring and evaluating teaching and performance management/appraisal. Licensees can enhance the modules by including additional material.