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PQH (NI)

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PQH (NI) is an accredited course for those aspiring to headship which is recognised as being equivalent to NPQH in England and has equal status with Welsh NPQH and Scottish Qualification for Headship.

(The qualification has been redesigned to reflect the changing role of headship and of school leadership and to meet the needs of those whose leadership experience and expertise places them within a touching distance of headship.)

PQH (NI) prepares aspiring headteachers for 21^st century strategic leadership and management challenges in Northern Ireland schools.

The PQH (NI) was first introduced in 1999 following steering and working group deliberations - involving all stakeholders and a formal consultation process conducted by the Department of Education which elicited unanimous support for the proposed model. A qualification to prepare teachers for headship, the model for PQH (NI) is a licensed adaptation of the National Qualification for Headship in England and reflects Northern Ireland's varying circumstances which include:-

differences in scale - reflected both in the much larger proportion of small primary schools in Northern Ireland, and closer working relationships between the various education bodies, providing opportunities to pool expertise and resources;
curricular differences - most noticeably in the implementation of the Revised NI Curriculum and the Entitlement Framework;
system differences - including the ICT systems that reflect the NI Education Technology Strategy.

The Regional Training Unit is the designated Lead Body and Awarding Body for PQH (NI).

Benefits for Aspiring Headteachers

Takes account of your professional development needs and your prior learning
Improves and develops your strategic leadership expertise
Develops key leadership and management skills
Enables you to build on your leadership and management strengths
Provides opportunities to work in different educational contexts
Gives you the confidence and competence to take up your first headship within 18 months of application, so you will make a positive impact on your school, the lives of children, young people and their families.

NPQH materials have been contextualised by teams of professionals for use in Northern Ireland. The programme is founded on the National Standards for Headteachers. Through personalised provision designed to meet the individual needs of each ‘trainee headteacher’, the programme will give you the confidence, skills and professional knowledge to deliver the best for pupils and all members of the school community in your first headship post.

The National Standards

The National Standards for Headteachers, which define the knowledge, professional qualities and actions required for effective school headship within six key areas; have been contextualised for Northern Ireland to reflect the distinctive aspects of our schooling system.

Information Sessions

If you require additional information after exploring this site, information sessions will be held at a number of venues throughout Northern Ireland from August to September. The first opportunity will be at our Summer School on Thursday 19 August 2010. An information session will be held the morning and repeated in the afternoon. You can only apply for these initial two sessions through the RTU Summer School prospectus.

Please note: Each information session on 19 August is only for a 1/2 day duration and not a whole day as stated in the Summer School prospectus.

Additional information sessions are as follows:-

Date	Venue
Thursday 9th September	Armagh City Hotel, Armagh
Monday 13th September	Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh
Tuesday 14th September	Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast
Wednesday 15th September	Tullylagan Hotel, Cookstown
Thursday 16th September	Radisson Roe Hotel, Limavady
Wednesday 29th September	Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn
Thursday 30th September	Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast

Each session commences at 3.30pm.

PQH Publications

There are currently no publications available

Key Contacts

David Hamilton (PQH NI Advisor)	E: dhamilton@rtuni.org	T: 028 90618121	Ext: 264
Bobby Gray (PQH NI Project Leader : Assessment)	E: bgray@rtuni.org	T: 02890 618121	Ext: 226
Robert Fitzpatrick (Project Leader : Research & Dev)	E: rfitzpatrick@rtuni.org	T: 02890 618121	Ext: 225
Vicki Johnston (Executive Office)	E: vjohnston@rtuni.org	T: 02890 618121	Ext: 222
Anglea Morgan (Clerical Officer)	E: amorgan@rtuni.org	T: 02890 618121	Ext: 221
Louise White (Clerical Officer)	E: lwhite@rtuni.org	T: 02890 618121	Ext: 224
Julie Frost (Senior Clerk Typist)	E: jfrost@rtuni.org	T: 028 90618121	Ext: 231

All Contacts