The Scottish Government

Listen

Scottish Qualification for Headship
Information About the Scottish Qualification for Headship

This document is also available in pdf format (16k)

Introduction

The Scottish Qualification for Headship has been developed in order to help raise standards of education in Scotland. It describes the level that aspirant headteachers should have reached in the areas of school leadership and management if they are to be able to take up a post as a headteacher successfully. The SQH Programme has been designed to prepare aspiring headteachers to reach the Standard for Headship in Scotland. The associated assessment procedures determine whether the Standard for Headship has been successfully achieved.

There are two routes to gaining the Scottish Qualification for Headship:

The Standard Route
The Accelerated Route

Both are described in the enclosed Programme Outline along with the associated assessment procedures. The Accelerated Route is only for those candidates who believe that they currently meet the competences outlined in the Standard for Headship and are ready to demonstrate this and be assessed against the Standard.

The Standard Route allows candidates to assess themselves in relation to the Standard for Headship and to undertake the learning programme as described, much of which is based on undertaking whole school development projects in school.

Eligibility

Applications

Applications are invited from suitably qualified people in teaching and other fields who aspire to become headteachers. They should already have had at least 5 years' teaching experience and relevant professional knowledge and understanding. They should also be able to demonstrate a proven commitment to their continuing professional development in relation to school management. In short, they should have the potential to become a headteacher. All candidates should be GTC registered or eligible for registration and have access to an appropriate work environment.

All candidates are selected and sponsored by their Local Authority.

If you would like to become a candidate for the SQH

The first step in the process is to have a discussion with your headteacher about your professional development. This meeting should decide whether the SQH development programme offers the most appropriate professional development opportunity for you.

If it is agreed that you should proceed then you should fill in the application form indicating whether you wish to apply for the accelerated or the standard route. The completed application form should be passed to your headteacher to complete the Reference Form. Both forms and the data capture sheet should then be sent to the Local Authority for completion of the selection process.

The information sheet from your Local Authority contains details about whom the forms should be sent to and the closing date for applications.

Selection

Each Local Authority has received funding to support a number of candidates on the SQH programme. Each Local Authority will make the final selection of candidates taking into account local circumstances and requirements.

Successful applicants employed in Local Authority schools will have their development programme and associated assessments funded by the Local Authority.

Appeals procedures

Local Authorities have their own procedures which will deal with appeals made by candidates at the application and selection stage. You should apply to your local SQH co-ordinator in the first instance for details.