What is the National Professional Qualification for Headship

In Wales it is a statutory requirement for all newly appointed permanent headteachers to hold the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

We want to develop the next generation of headteachers to lead our schools through our education reform agenda to inspire our children and young people. Headship is a rewarding and challenging job, and our aim is to ensure that all prospective headteachers are supported and developed as they take the next step in their careers.

Following an initial independent review of the NPQH Wales programme in May 2023, a new programme has been developed. The new programme promotes the building of expertise and confidence through active engagement with the anticipated challenge of headship, and through direct and influential feedback in the context of the Professional Standards for assisting teaching and leadership.

Since September 2025, the NPQH programme has been delivered by Dysgu. The programme is designed to inspire, challenge and support participants as they enhance their current leadership practice and develop new competencies that will positively influence outcomes and life chances for learners. Much of the programme will be bespoke to individual participants and cognisant of the demands upon headteachers and their role in securing the success of their school and the national agenda.

The new programme will emphasise an unswerving focus upon improved learner outcomes and will provide:

• a chance to lead

• guided exposure to a range of leadership contexts

• access and engagement with leadership case studies and theoretical perspectives

• opportunities to engage in deep and challenging discussion with peers

• an awareness of the managerial responsibilities’ incumbent upon headteachers

Feedback is built in at every stage to enable participants to develop and grow as a result of experience.