Guidance

Early headship coaching offer

A support package for new headteachers.

Applies to England

Who this course is for

This targeted one-year support package has been tailored to the needs of new headteachers.

It provides structured, unassessed support and networking based on the best available evidence about what makes an effective headteacher.

You can complete it alongside the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, or recently after taking the NPQ in headship.

The support you receive will differ depending on your chosen provider. It may include:

  • group coaching
  • one-to-one support
  • peer networking

Eligibility

To take the early headship coaching offer, you need to be doing or have done the headship NPQ and be in your first five years of headship.

To find out more, contact your local teaching school hub, lead provider or other delivery partner.

Funding

Funding to cover the course fees is available to many state funded settings in England, subject to eligibility criteria and if you are:

  • in your first 5 years of headship in England
  • in a state-funded school or state-funded 16 to 19 organisation in England
  • doing or have done the headship NPQ

Eligibility for funding does not guarantee a place on a funded NPQ course.

Providers

The following DfE-approved providers offer this support:

Apply

Learn how to apply for the early headship coaching offer.

Updates to this page

Published 20 September 2023
Last updated 16 December 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated information about funding and removed one provider.

  2. Removed 'Education Development Trust' from the list of providers.

  3. Updated funding details.

  4. First published.

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