NCSL press release: 7 May 2003
HEADS' QUALIFICATION TO COUNT TOWARDS MASTERS DEGREE
Holders of the official qualification for headteachers will receive extra recognition for their achievement in the form of accreditation towards a Masters degree.
Under a new agreement with nine universities, graduates of the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) will be awarded 33 per cent credit towards a Masters degree in school leadership, management, or school effectiveness.
NPQH is run by the National College for School Leadership(NCSL) and is set to become mandatory for all new headteachers from April 2004. It is aimed at deputy and assistant heads who are aspiring to headship.
The universities which have signed up to the new accreditation arrangements are Bath, Hull, Leicester, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Warwick and the Open University. All are nationally recognised for their work in leadership and management studies.
NCSL is also in talks with other members of UCET (the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers) and it is expected more universities will sign up to the agreement over the coming months.
Heather Du Quesnay, Chief Executive of NCSL, said: "These new arrangements represent a great vote of confidence in NPQH from some of the most respected universities in the country. As we prepare to make NPQH mandatory for all new headteachers, this news will reassure applicants of the robust and high quality nature of the qualification."
There are currently nearly 7000 people doing NPQH and more than 8000 have graduated with the qualification since it was introduced in 1997.
NPQH graduate Ingrid Gallagher, who has now got three of her staff doing NPQH, said: "It is a brilliant programme in itself but this development at last means it can form part of a proper personal and professional development ladder as far as accreditation is concerned. It also gives NPQH credibility and recognition as Masters worthy. And how fantastic to be able to do a degree in something you do as part of your day to day practice!"
Professor Clive Dimmock from the Educational Management Development Unit at Leicester University said: "We don't want NPQH to be seen as a one off qualification but as a natural step towards Masters and even Doctorates. It's about lifelong learning - training never stops!
"NPQH is very practical and skills based. A Masters offers continuation onto more in-depth academic study. The two qualifications complement each other and offer a good through train."
There are two application rounds a year for NPQH and the latest one has just opened. Applications must be submitted by June 10th.
Press contact: Claire Gould, NCSL Media Relations Manager - 0115 872 2094
Notes for editors:
The new accreditation arrangements in no way prescribe an admissions procedure for the partner universities.
Individual universities will have particular requirements before the 33 per cent credit is awarded, for example most candidates will be required to produce an appropriate piece of written work for assessment by the HEI to which they have applied.
The new accreditation arrangements may aslo benefit holders of Masters degrees in school leadership, management or school effectiveness, awarded by one of the partner universities, who wish to do NPQH. Subject to them providing suitable evidence of whole school management and leadership achievment, they will be eligible to move through NPQH on a faster route, bypassing stages 1 and 2.
Funding for NPQH is available through NCSL for the majority of applicants. NPQH is delivered across England by ten regional providers. The regional providers are currently running a number of NPQH briefing sessions. Further information about the programme, application details and briefing sessions are available from the Headship Information Line 0845 716 5136 or by visiting www.ncsl.org.uk/npqh
A variety of study methods are used on NPQH including online learning, school-based assessment and residential training. The programme is designed to fit around teachers' individual circumstances and can take between six months and two years to complete according to previous experience.
The National College for School Leadership (NCSL) was launched in November 2000 by the Prime Minister and is responsible for providing continual training recognition and support for England's school leaders. The College took over responsibility for NPQH from the DfES in April 2001.