Staff Profile

Completing the NPQH with the National Institute of Teaching has been a transformative professional journey. As a Subject Consultant for the Harris Federation, with additional responsibilities in teacher development and consultant training, I approached the qualification with the aim of deepening understanding of leadership and preparing myself for future headship. The programme has exceeded all expectations.

The NPQH has equipped me with a rich toolkit of leadership skills that I have already begun applying in my current roles. From strategic curriculum planning to whole-school improvement approaches, the course has refined my ability to lead with clarity, purpose, and measurable impact. I have become far more confident in areas such as data analysis, implementation planning, leading change, and working across teams to ensure coherence and sustained progress. The real-world case studies and scenario-based learning helped bring theoretical leadership models into tangible, everyday practice.

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the strong emphasis on reflective practice. Through regular engagement with frameworks such as the implementation cycle and stakeholder engagement strategies, I was encouraged to pause, question, and refine my approach at each stage. This critical reflection has been instrumental in shaping how I lead ensuring they are responsive to need, sustainable, and aligned with broader school and trust priorities.

A particular highlight of the NPQH was the personalised coaching support I received. My coach, an experienced and successful Headteacher, was a constant source of insight, challenge, and encouragement. Our sessions provided a safe, developmental space to discuss the practicalities of school leadership, explore solutions to challenges, and refine my own vision for school improvement. These conversations were pivotal in helping me see myself as a future Headteacher, and they boosted both my self-belief and my strategic thinking. The ability to draw on such rich, real-world experience helped bridge the gap between the theory of leadership and its real-life demands.

Importantly, the programme was highly supportive throughout. The resources were expertly curated, the online platform was accessible and well-structured, and the assessment process was rigorous yet manageable. I never felt isolated; instead, I felt part of a wider national network of aspiring school leaders, all motivated to raise standards and improve outcomes for children. The facilitators fostered an environment of high expectations combined with genuine encouragement and care.

As I look ahead to my next step I feel significantly more confident, prepared, and grounded in my values as a leader. The NPQH has not only strengthened my leadership skillset but has also helped me crystallise the kind of Headteacher I want to become: values-driven, evidence-informed, and committed to building a culture where staff and students thrive.

I am deeply grateful for the experience and cannot recommend the NPQH with NIOT highly enough. It has been a milestone in my professional journey and a springboard into the next exciting phase of leadership.