This Circular provides revised guidance on the Mandatory National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in Wales. This guidance replaces Circular 20/05 (July 2005).

The statutory requirement underpinning the mandatory NPQH in Wales remains unchanged.  This guidance has been issued to provide additional clarification in relation to the requirement to hold the NPQH or an equivalent qualification upon:

• applying for a headship appointment;
• being appointed as a head teacher; and
• starting to serve as a head teacher.

The Head Teachers’ Qualifications and Registration (Wales) Regulations 2005 prohibit an individual from serving as a head teacher unless he/she holds the NPQH or a comparable qualification. The Regulations do not prevent an individual who does not hold the NPQH or equivalent from applying for a headship appointment or being appointed as a head teacher, although any individual appointed could not begin to serve as a head teacher until he/she holds the NPQH or equivalent.

Aspiring and serving head teachers and bodies involved in headship appointments are advised to have due regard for the procedures and advice set out in this Circular.

The guidance can be downloaded from the Welsh Assembly Government’s website.