Headteachers are at the forefront of leadership in schools, responsible not only for strategic direction but also for fostering a culture of learning, inclusion, and continuous improvement amongst staff and students. 

As a complex and demanding, but incredibly rewarding role, being an effective headteacher demands the confidence to lead with clarity and purpose, and that’s where the national professional qualification for headship (NPQH) plays a vital role. 

Designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school, the NPQH increases participants’ understanding of the knowledge that underpins expert school leadership. 

This year, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the national professional qualification for headship (NPQH) is fully funded for interested and eligible teachers, but registration closes at the end of this month so now is the time to apply. 

Someone who has previously taken up this offer is Elizabeth Lambe, interim head of school at St Augustine’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Runcorn, who began her NPQH journey as part of Inspire Learning TSH’s Autumn 2024 intake. Elizabeth is currently working towards her final assessment, which will take place in April 2026, and attributes the NPQH to helping her refine her approach and build confidence as a head of school.

An established leader, Elizabeth has already completed a national professional qualification for senior leadership (NPQSL) and was working in a senior leadership role within Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust (HFCMAT) before she became interim head of school and applied to undertake the NPQH. 

She explained: “I applied for the NPQH because I really wanted to prepare for headship. The timing worked well as I’d just stepped into an interim head role, and I knew it would help me grow into that position. I already had a strong foundation in leading teams and driving improvement, but I wanted to develop my skills when it came to the strategic side of leadership with things such as vision, culture, and long-term school development.” 

Since embarking on the NPQH with us, Elizabeth has experienced face-to-face sessions, peer learning groups and mentoring meetings that have been balanced alongside self-directed study. 

Elizabeth said: “The structure has worked really well for me. The learning builds up logically, and there’s a good balance between the face-to-face sessions, mentoring and self-directed study. I’ve especially enjoyed the face-to-face sessions – working in a smaller group has been great for honest discussion and sharing experiences.” 

At Inspire Learning TSH, we pride ourselves on our team of fantastic facilitators and Elizabeth has taken a lot from the support she’s received from Helen Pinnington, a current headteacher at a secondary school who holds an MEd in practitioner research and was part of the writing team for the AFL National Strategies. 

“Helen has been an excellent facilitator,” Elizabeth explained. “She brings so much experience and makes the sessions really engaging and relevant. I’ve taken a lot away from the discussions she’s led and the materials we’ve used have been really practical, so I’ve been able to take them straight back into my school.” 

When asked what she would say to someone considering applying for the NPQH with us, Elizabeth said: “It’s such a well-run, supportive programme, and it really does prepare you for headship.” 

She added: “The combination of high-quality facilitation and practical learning makes it a brilliant experience – you’ll definitely come away a stronger, more confident leader.” 

If, like Elizabeth, you’d like to complete your NPQH, register now by clicking here and selecting UCL along with Inspire Learning TSH as your chosen organisations.