At a glance
Course duration
18 Months
Awards:
NPQH and
Level 5 Learning and Development Apprenticeship
Face-to-Face Events
5
Monthly Coaching
Sessions
Programme cost
£7,000 £0 with Apprenticeship Levy funding
What is the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH is a dual award which has mapped the DfE's flagship NPQ for Headship (NPQH) to the Level 5 Learning and Development Apprenticeship.
The NPQH provides an evidence-informed framework built around “learn that” and “learn how to,” defining the knowledge and skills essential for highly effective headship. It focuses on the strategic leadership of a school, covering everything from establishing an ethical culture and professional climate to overseeing teaching, curriculum, and organisational management.
The apprenticeship develops headteachers as strategic leaders of learning, capable of diagnosing complex organisational needs and designing the high-level professional development strategies required to drive school-wide improvement.
This combination means headteachers are equipped as strategic leaders who can shape whole-school practice, culture and performance.
Who should apply for the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH?
This programme is suitable for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.
Although some headteachers and principals still teach, the role is primarily a strategic and operational one and relies on working with and through their colleagues (in particular, through the leadership team) to ensure every pupil gets an excellent education.
What are the benefits of completing the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH?
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH provides a dual qualification in senior leader expertise and Level 5 Learning and Development. This combination bridges the gap between high-level educational theory and the strategic management skills required to lead staff, improve teaching standards, and drive sustainable change across a whole school.
Cultivate professional excellence
The NPQH establishes the vision for high-quality schooling; the Level 5 apprenticeship provides the organisational design skills to make it a reality. By mastering group behaviour and learning cultures, you can move beyond managing staff to building a culture of excellence where continuous professional improvement is a self-sustaining habit.
Personalised feedback and coaching
Benefit from additional support and monthly coaching sessions, providing you with personalised guidance and insights tailored to your unique situations, helping you overcome any challenges you may face.
Strategic implementation
Develop the skills necessary to design and implement robust improvement strategies. By mastering implementation science, you will be able to provide expert guidance to other leaders on how to execute and sustain change that delivers long-term impact.
Excel as a headteacher
Gain a comprehensive understanding of what effective headteachers need to know and do. Develop the expertise to lead both the high-level strategic direction of your school and its day-to-day operational management with confidence.
Develop the leadership capacity of others
Learn that headship is fundamentally about working through others. This dual award equips you with the tools to identify and develop leadership talent within your school, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of expertise and a shared commitment to the school’s vision.
Lead the development of teaching excellence
Actively build a professional environment where enquiry-based practice is the standard at all levels. Guide teachers and other leaders in mastering the science of learning, ensuring that the school’s goals are met through the collective growth of your staff.
Why should I undertake the dual award?
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Cross-sector learning
Candidates access cutting-edge theory, resources and delivery from thought leaders and leading practitioners from all sectors of the economy.
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Awards 100 Master's credits
Can be used as a springboard onto an MA in Educational Leadership with the University of Chester.
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Practice-based programme
Candidates undertake school-based activities and are assessed on how they apply learning in their day-to-day role, helping develop and refine organisational management and leadership skills.
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A wider view of leadership
Candidates apply cross-sector management and leadership practice to their school context providing greater challenge and a broader perspective to organisational improvement.
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Access to extra coaching
and content
Throughout the course you will have access to coaching and teaching to help you succeed in the qualification.
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A personal experienced tutor to help you
An experienced tutor will help you throughout both the apprenticeship and the National Professional Qualification.
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Utilise levy funding
This professional development opportunity makes use of the apprenticeship levy and includes the DfE accredited NPQH at no additional cost.
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Chartered Management Institute
Eligibility to become a Chartered Fellow and Institute of Leadership and Management Fellow.
This programme focuses on the holistic development of the appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviours, designed in partnership with cross-sector industries, to ensure bespoke coverage of all the relevant requirements of leading and managing at a headship level at your school or trust.
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH makes use of a blended delivery model consisting of Face-to-Face events, online study, webinars and coaching.
Face-to-Face
NPQH participants will attend 5 face-to-face events via the blended delivery model. Our nationwide delivery partnership network allows us to bring face-to-face training to a training centre in your region and facilitated by experienced school leaders and facilitators.
Online Learning
Participants access online learning and support via our virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas. Through Canvas, participants are able to engage with their learning communities of peers and access multimedia content. They can also access research and expert-led school practice aligned to the curriculum content for the qualification and receive high-quality feedback from experienced performance
How do I access the funding?
You can access funding for the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH from your school’s Apprenticeship Levy. Schools will be able to access the funding through their apprenticeship service (AS) account.
If your school needs help setting up your AS account, just let us know and we’ll guide you through it.
The Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH costs £7,000 from Apprenticeship Levy funds or co-investment for non-levy payers where the government pays 95% (the NPQH standalone cost is £1980).
The level of funding depends on each candidate’s learning needs, with a maximum allocation of £7,000 to cover the cost of the apprenticeship.
What is the Apprenticeship Levy?
The levy is paid by large employers with a wage bill of over £3 million. These employers pay 0.5% of their total annual pay bill into the levy. Most state-maintained schools and multi-academy trusts pay into the levy.
The levy is designed to create long term sustainable funding for apprenticeships and to give employers more control to provide their staff with a range of training opportunities.
Apprenticeship funded training is designed for both new and existing staff members.
If your school is not a levy payer or has exhausted its levy funds, the government will pay 95% of tuition fees with your school paying the remaining 5%. Please contact us if you would like more information.
Below is the programme structure for the Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH:
Applicants must have full support from their school/organisation. A head teacher, member of the SLT, line manager or Chair of Governors (or similar authoritative role) must confirm their support and that all information submitted is true and correct. This is a Department for Education mandatory requirement.
To apply, applicants must have the following:
- Teacher Reference Number - see TRN Support Guide
- Leadership aspiration/experience
- Be 18-36 months from applying for a headship role (if not already a headteacher)
If you are unsure if you meet the above requirements or have other relevant experience then please contact our team who will be able to support your application.
Our Leader Apprenticeship with NPQH includes the National Professional Qualification for Headship. For more information about the NPQH, click here.
Best Practice Network is one of the leading providers of NPQH nationally and the quality of our provision is rated ‘Exceptional’ by the DfE’s external quality assurance agent.
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