Preparatory programmes for headteachers (NPQH) in Britain: A model for Turkey

Education is an essential organization which raises new generations and at the same time contributes economic, social and cultural development of its society. In this sense, educational organizations will be able to fulfill these functions only under the roof of a healthy organization which is organized with absolute professionalism. It is the school?s headteacher who will lead the school to success. He is the one who will use all the energy, potential and financial sources of the organization for this success. One of the most clear criteria whether a school is successful in realizing the mission is a well-raised, qualified school director. Raising and recruiting the school headteachers in Turkey and the question what kind of qualifications a headteacher should have are issues which have to be answered. In this study in which the scanning method was used, The National Professional Qualification for Headship certification program (NPQH) used compulsory for the headteacher candidates in England since April 2004 has been studied and presented as a model available for Turkey. NPQH program puts forth some national standards necessary for the main parts of school management for headteacher candidates. These standards define the headship as a profession and form a basis for the headmasters who want to plan their professional development and for the ones who want to be headmaster. At the end of this study, a model that is based on two countries? experiences has been presented.