Recent research by Professor John Howson has highlighted the difficulty that many schools are experiencing in recruiting headteachers and other senior managers. The survey showed that this problem is even more acute for some Catholic schools. The Catholic Education Service (CES) very much appreciates the work you are doing in Catholic schools, and we hope that by working with the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) we can continue to develop the next generation of school leaders for the Catholic sector.

The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is a practical programme designed to prepare aspiring headteachers for the challenging role of headship. The programme equips aspiring headteachers with the leadership and management skills necessary for running a modern school. Participants network with colleagues in similar and contrasting settings to share experiences, issues and best practice. They also benefit from experienced and skilled tutorial support, highly valued study materials and access to the best in NCSL online learning.

CES and NCSL particularly wish to encourage applicants in Catholic schools – or those interested in leading a Catholic school – and are writing directly to you to bring the next application round of NPQH to your attention. If you can see the potential for headship in a colleague, we would like you to encourage them to apply to the forthcoming Intake 12 application round, starting from 11 April to 5 May with the programme beginning in September 2006. There is some flexibility in the programme, which allows candidates to specifically study leadership of schools with a religious character, and discuss the challenges of headship with experienced leaders and fellow candidates.

NCSL’s nine regional centres may still be holding information sessions in your area where you can find out more about NPQH. To book a place on a session and for more details on the programme please visit  www.ncsl.org.uk/npqh