The costs detailed below apply to all trainee headteachers starting the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) from Intake 1 onwards in the 2008-09 academic year.
For the majority of trainee headteachers, NCSL will subsidise the cost of NPQH. However, please check your employment situation against the table and notes below so that you are sure of the contribution you will be asked to make. Other trainee headteachers, such as those from independent schools, may wish to seek support from their employer or a sponsor.
| Employment of trainee headteacher | Programme fee payable by trainee headteacher/employer |
|---|---|
| Small school (see definition below*) | No fee is payable. NCSL will subsidise these trainee headteachers 100%. |
Maintained school, including:
Non-maintained special schools Pupil referral units Secure units Academies Advisers/consultants employed by local authorities or diocesan authorities | £760 This represents a 20% contribution towards the full programme fee of £3,800. |
School outside England Non-maintained/independent school Not employed in a school (apart from local or diocesan authority advisers/consultants - see above) | £3,800 Trainee headteachers in these circumstances are not eligible for NCSL subsidy and are required to cover the full cost of the programme. If you are not eligible for NCSL subsidy but you later take up your first substantive headship post in a maintained school, you or your sponsor will be able to claim back the cost (or part cost) of the fees for the programme. |
Following attendance at the regional introductory day at the start of the NPQH development stage, a single invoice for £760 or £3,800 (see table above for confirmation of applicable fee) will be sent to the school/organisation employing the trainee headteacher on the date of the introductory day. If the school/organisation will not fund the trainee headteacher, then the trainee headteacher will be invoiced directly.
Late or non payment will result in NCSL withdrawing the trainee headteacher from the programme. Should a trainee headteacher withdraw from the programme or be withdrawn by NCSL or his/her NPQH Entry or Development Centre, no reimbursement of any part of the fee will be made.
NCSL's payment terms are 30 days from the date on the invoice and payment must be made in full.
Please note that if you withdraw/are withdrawn you will no longer be eligible to apply for headship. If already appointed as a headteacher, you may be deemed in breach of contract.
If a trainee headteacher changes employer after attending the introductory day, it is for the trainee headteacher and/or school(s) to come to an agreement regarding the payment of any contribution to the cost of the programme.
Where a candidate is seconded, it will be the employing school or organisation that is invoiced.
*Small school definition
A small school is defined as any eligible establishment (see list below) which has 100 or fewer children of statutory school age according to the most recent Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) return, as accessed by the College at the point of the trainee headteacher's online application. This is the current definition as used by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
The College will measure the number of pupils on roll at the time the application is submitted, using its copy of the Edubase database, which is updated regularly. The College's decision in this regard is final. If the number on roll changes after this point, this will not affect the decision and the subsidy status will not change.
The following state schools and establishments are defined as eligible:
- community schools and colleges
- foundation schools and colleges
- pupil referral units
- academies
- LA nursery schools
- voluntary-aided schools and colleges
- voluntary-controlled schools and colleges
- secure units
- city technology colleges
- non-maintained special schools
Independent schools and international schools are not defined as eligible, as these schools sit outside the remit of the College.
Trainee headteachers from small schools (see definition above) will receive some reimbursement towards the cost of travel and supply cover related to NPQH activity.
Full details will be published here in due course.
If an individual cancels attendance at specific events, cancellation fees may be enforced. Full details of the cancellation policy will be published here in due course.
A separate withdrawal and deferral policy will also be published.
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