Head Start
Head Start is a professional development programme designed to support your move into headship – from the moment you graduate from the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and throughout the first two years of your new role as a headteacher.
Head Start provides practical advice and support to enable you to become a highly effective headteacher early on in your new role, with the confidence and skills to be a great leader for your school.
Who can apply?
Graduates of NPQH and new headteachers within the first two years of their initial headship.
Find out more about the eligibility criteria.
What's involved?
Head Start gives you the opportunity to benefit from the support of an experienced headteacher (professional partner) through 20–30 hours of mentoring; share experiences with a network of other new headteachers through our online community; and continue to develop your leadership skills through online learning modules and online short courses suited to your context. As part of the programme grants are available to support local networking and inductions for groups of new headteachers.
The programme is split into two phases, the first is open to NPQH graduates and is designed to help you find and secure your first headship. The second phase is to support newly appointed headteachers and will support you throughout the first two years of your new role. You can join Head Start at either the first or second phase as appropriate to your needs.
Duration
You will receive support until you have completed your first two years of headship.
Cost
Please see the Costs page for details.
Find out more
- Download our fact sheet.
- Read about participants' experience of the programme.
- Contact the Head Start team at headstart@nationalcollege.org.uk.
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