Professional development

• Associate Headteacher Programme
  • Who is the Associate Headteacher Programme for?
  • Programme details
  • Benefits
  • Costs
  • Apply
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Contact details
  • Programme information for local authorities

Associate Headteacher Programme

The Associate Headteacher Programme (formerly the Trainee Headteacher Programme) encourages deputy headteachers to step up into headship in schools in challenging contexts.

The programme is centred around a placement for the associate head in a local school, which is in challenging circumstances, but that has strong leadership and the capacity for the headteacher to mentor the associate and provide a hands-on experience of headship in the school.

• A pilot scheme for associate principals within academies is also now available.

Key facts

• Prepares participants to move to a headship in a challenging context.
• Gives participants the confidence and practical skills to succeed at interview and hit the ground running during their first year as a headteacher.
• Supports system leadership by freeing up an experienced headteacher's time to support cross-school and local authority strategic work.

Duration

One year (from September to July).

Delivery method

The programme offers focused, hands-on experience for participants, coupled with practical mentoring and coaching support from experienced headteachers. Participants also attend six two-day face-to-face events across the year of the programme.

Who can apply?

Local authorities are invited to put forward a group of between two and six deputy headteachers from either phase (including those from special schools) who are National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) graduates and are likely to be ready to step up to headship in 12 to 18 months time.

Next application round

To be confirmed