Associate Headteacher Programme
Programme Information
Background Information
The programme’s key objective is to improve performance and raise attainment in the most challenging
schools, by increasing the pool of leaders ready to take on a headship in a school in challenging
circumstances.
The Associate Headteacher Programme (formally the Trainee Headteacher Programme) has been
delivered by the DCSF and the National College (formerly NCSL) for the last eight years and has been
highly regarded across the sector as a powerful way to support deputy headteachers in stepping up to a
headship role.
The programme is based around an internship/placement for experienced deputies (or those with
equivalent experience) that have the potential to lead challenging schools. The associates undertake a
part-time or full-time placement across a school year in a school in a challenging context which through
strong leadership is on an upward trajectory of improvement. They work alongside the headteacher and
gain valuable first-hand experience of headship in this context.
The September 2010 Cohort (Cohort 10)
For this cohort, we are opening the recruitment up to all local authorities and inviting them to put
forward a group of between two and six deputy headteachers from either phase (including those from
special schools) who are NPQH graduates and are likely to be ready to step up to headship in 12-18
months time. Local authorities will be asked to propose a model for the placements that will support the
local authority’s overall succession planning and leadership development strategies.
There are 90 places on the programme nationally and priority will be given to proposals from local
authorities within the three City Challenge regions of London, Greater Manchester and the Black Country,
and Priority Learning Local Authorities; followed by local authorities that are already receiving National
College targeted support for NPQH graduates under the National College’s Succession Planning
Programme. For this cohort, we are also particularly interested in applications supporting leadership
issues (relating to succession and attainment) in small rural primary schools and also faith schools, in
particular from the Catholic faith.
We also welcome proposals from other local authorities which seek to address leadership and succession
issues in schools in challenging contexts through engagement with the programme.
Proposals will be judged based on:
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clarity in the local authority’s strategy for raising attainment through engagement in the programme,
both through succession planning across the schools involved and improving leadership in schools in
challenging contexts
clarity in the local authority’s strategy for supporting the associate headteachers beyond the
programme itself (eg supporting/encouraging graduates into substantive headships)
capacity of the local authority to add to their existing succession planning strategy and take full
ownership of the Associate Headteacher Programme model.
The local authority will have ownership of how the placements will create succession opportunities within
the authority and will be responsible for the funding implications of back-fill supply costs, or other
associated salary costs. Backfill may come from within the same school or be part of internship
opportunities for middle leaders. To accommodate funding limitations there are several models the local
authority may wish to consider, either full-time or part-time (eg one day per week), across the three
terms. The placement must be a minimum of 20 days, either spread across the year, or as a block of
time. Longer placements are recommended if funding and context allow this and previous feedback has
indicated that where placements are spread across the year on a day-a-week basis, the associate will
benefit from a block of time added to this (eg of a week or two weeks) at some point in the year.
The programme overall will run for the full academic year and it is expected that the associate
headteacher will have contact with their placement school and engage in development towards a
headship role for the full year regardless of the length of the placement. Support will also be provided
from the programme team for the full year. Some examples of models that have previously been
successful are given below:
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two deputies swap schools for a full year and take on a more strategic role in the new school. Some
deputy duties are back filled, hence creating further succession opportunities within the school
a deputy is placed in another school as associate headteacher which creates additional capacity in the
host school for one day a week for the full year. This allows the associate to focus on his/her own
development and the mentor headteacher to allocate more time to working strategically. The
deputy’s substantive school arranges back-fill which creates succession opportunities for that school.
a deputy, already part of federation, moves to their neighbour school for a full term as an associate
headteacher, taking on additional duties in the role of “head of school” and supported by the
executive headteacher.
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Please note that where local authorities work collaboratively together, particularly in the City Challenge
areas, placements may be across local authorities.
Recruitment Process
The National College has asked its National Succession Consultants (NSCs) to support local authorities in
putting together their proposals and identifying suitable candidates for the role of associate headteacher,
and suitable placement schools. If you are interested in this opportunity then please contact your NSC to
discuss your proposal. In particular, if you are within a City Challenge area, it will be important for your
NSC to liaise with the regional City Challenge project team to ensure applications are coordinated across
the region.
NSCs will work closely with the Associate Headteacher Programme team to progress this. However,
please note that local authorities are responsible for putting forward their proposal to the National
College within the timeframe.
An initial Expression of interest is requested by 15 January 2010. We are also holding
information sessions for local authorities to find out more about the programme and the
recruitment process, including how the local authority might set up and support the
placements.
Local authorities may also wish to invite potential applicants and host schools to the session for them to
find out more about the programme for themselves.
Please contact Michelle Holmes, Programme coordinator at associateheads@nationalcollege.org.uk 0115
8723824 or Jodi Davis, Programme Manager on 0115 8722598.
Key activities
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Application packs available for interested local authorities
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LA discusses proposal with NSC and submits initial expression of interest to
the National College
The National College confirms to LA if accepted in principle on to the
programme.
Regional Information sessions for local authorities
LA and NSC discuss the programme model and participants, including input
from a programme consultant if required
LA submits proposal to the National College including details of nominated
associate headteachers and proposed placement schools
The National College responds to LA on their proposal and confirms details of
verification event for associate headteachers
The National College holds verification day of nominated associate
headteachers
The National College issues confirmation of all accepted associate heads
LAs confirm placement arrangements and schools with programme facilitators
and programme team
Local or regional Induction events held for all associates, host heads, home
heads and LAs
The Development Programme
Associate headteachers will be required to attend six two-day development sessions. The days include a
range of focussed learning opportunities centred around the following themes.
 Session 1 – Key Principles in Headship
 Session 2 – Leading in Challenging Circumstances
 Session 3 – Getting a Headship (interview and presentation skills)
 Session 4 – Developing Others
 Session 5 – Future Schools
 Session 6 – Building Capacity
Associate headteachers will be allocated to a regional cohort of North, Midlands or South and attend
development days at the National College Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham. The sessions
will be approximately every two months and include overnight accommodation which is fully subsidised
by the National College.
The headteacher of the placement school (and the substantive headteacher where appropriate) will be
requested to attend development sessions for one day in each term (this is likely to be November,
January and July).
Each associate headteacher will be assigned an external facilitator to act as mentor during the year. The
facilitator will visit the associate at least twice during the year and be in regular contact through phone
and email. The facilitator will support the associate in their learning and work with him/her on a learning
and development plan within the placement. The facilitator will also liaise with the relevant schools and
partners to ensure necessary links and communications are maintained.
Once places are confirmed, the allocated facilitator will contact the associate headteacher and relevant
parties to arrange an induction event. The event will be flexible to respond to different group contexts,
but is likely to be a half-day event, incorporating the associates, headteachers and LA representative
from each local authority or collaborative group of authorities. This can be held at a local venue
convenient to the group and should take place at the end of the summer term.
The Role of the Placement Headteacher
The headteacher of the placement school will be the in-school mentor for the associate headteacher for
the duration of the placement. If the placement is less than a year, there will be an expectation (which
will be agreed by all parties) of ongoing support outside of the placement. The role will include:
 providing appropriate office accommodation/working space for the associate allowing good access to
the headteacher – possibly a shared office
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allocating time for regular meetings to reflect on and discuss general issues of school leadership
enabling the associate to get behind the headteacher’s thinking and understand why he/she acts as
he/she does
identifying, with the associate and his/her external consultant, key development opportunities for the
associate and agreeing appropriate leadership experiences to match these
identifying a key area(s) of school development for which the associate can take a lead role
enabling the associate to shadow the work of the headteacher in activities and meetings within and
outside the school in order to experience the full range of work in which a headteacher engages
enabling the associate to establish professional credibility around the school including taking
assemblies, teaching and interacting with staff and children in the same way that the headteacher
does
encouraging the associate to reflect on and discuss his/her progress and the ways in which identified
development needs have been/are being met
support the associate headteachers applications for substantive headship positions
attending the induction and a termly development day with the associate
Further Information
The Trainee Headteacher Programme was renamed from April 2008 to the Associate Headteacher
programme, due to the term trainee head being used for candidates within the new redesigned NPQH.
While the terminology is still new, it will be important to clarify the difference to prospective applicants
and schools and be sure which programme is being referred to with the word “trainee head”.
For further information on the Associate Headteacher Programme please visit the website at
www.nationalcollege.org.uk/ahp or contact the team at:
Programme Manager – Jodi Davis: jodi.davis@nationalcollege.org.uk / 0115 872 2598
Programme Coordinator – Michelle Holmes: michelle.holmes@nationalcollege.org.uk / 0115 872 3824