Who is Head Start for?

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Head Start is open to:

  • graduates of the redesigned model of the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
  • new headteachers who are in their first two years of headship, including academy principals
  • leaders who have accepted their first headship but have not yet taken up the post
  • acting heads who will be in post for a period of at least one term (although you may wish to consider applying for NPQH if you want to pursue a permanent headteacher role in the future)

If you have previously registered for support through Early Headship Provision (EHP) you will not be eligible to join Head Start as well.

Please contact headstart.team@education.gsi.gov.uk if you have any queries about your eligibility for Head Start.

Graduates of previous models of NPQH

Once you are appointed to your first headship you are entitled to apply for the second phase of the Head Start programme.

Early Headship Provision (EHP) participants

New headteachers that have already accessed EHP will not be entitled to register for Head Start as well. However, the Head Start online materials for new headteachers are also available to those accessing EHP via My College.