Why train with Ambition?
Choose our Early Headship Coaching Offer and you’ll be joining over 35,000 teachers and school leaders (as of May 2025), who have decided on Ambition to complete their NPQ since they were launched in 2021.
Our EHCO provides you with tailored, personalised support to apply knowledge from the NPQH to your school context.
We have designed this support offer for new headteachers to accompany the NPQ in Headship, to help you put the evidence and expertise from your NPQH into practice in your school setting.
Benefit from expert guidance
Over three terms, you'll receive guidance from an experienced, serving headteacher who works in a similar setting or phase, to help you apply expertise from the NPQH, to overcome the challenges and complex problems you face in your day-to-day role.
Train to your timetable
Our 'little and often' approach often means you can engage with our NPQs around your busy timetable, with minimal time needed out of school.
No assessment
There is no formal assessment for the EHCO. So, you can focus entirely on practically applying your learning.
Join our charitable mission
We support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers, helping them to keep getting better. We are a charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.
Benefits for you
Get ongoing personal support
Being new to a headship role can be daunting. The EHCO will help you to find your feet by identifying your priorities and looking at structured, practical ways to tackle context specific problems.
Receive one-to-one coaching
You’ll get one-to-one coaching from an expert Headteacher who can provide support, insight and feedback to help you deal with the specific challenges you’re facing in your school.
School shadowing experience
Contextualise your NPQH expertise in a real school setting by shadowing an experienced headteacher. Your coach will explain the steps they have undertaken, their rationale, and any obstacles they have overcome in their school, supporting you to understand how they have applied expertise to their practice.
Build your network
You’ll also gain an effective peer community with a small group of headteachers facing similar challenges as you, providing a network that lasts long after you’ve completed the EHCO. These online sessions will explore the common challenges you are experiencing and help you overcome them.
Benefits for your school or trust
Improve staff retention
An investment in your new headteacher shows your commitment to their career progression and job satisfaction. This means they’ll be more likely to stay in their post and become an effective leader.
Learn from experts
Your headteacher will receive one-to-one coaching and support from an experienced headteacher who will share their knowledge and professional insight.
Tackle existing challenges
Coaching and shadowing will focus on applying expertise from the NPQH to the problems your headteacher might be experiencing in their role. They will be guided by expert coaches to arrive at effective solutions to tackle the problems they face in their school.
Create a positive school culture
A headteacher that feels supported and has the training and tools to create positive change, will lead to a happier workforce, better teaching and more positive outcomes for your pupils.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the EHCO programme for?
The Early Headship Coaching Offer is designed for new headteachers in the first five years of their role and are currently on, have completed, or applying for an NPQ in Headship.
How long does the EHCO programme last?
The Early Headship Coaching Offer is a twelve month programme, with a mixture of live, facilitated sessions and self-directed learning.
How does the EHCO programme accommodate busy schedules?
The Early Headship Coaching Offer is designed to fit around your schedule with a 'little and often' approach that aligns with insights from the science of learning.
Is the EHCO fully funded?
The Early Headship Coaching Offer is fully funded for teachers and school leaders who work in eligible schools and organisations in England, by the Department for Education. Find out more about the eligibility criteria in the 'Funding' tab.
Are there any specific requirements to enrol on the EHCO programme?
To be eligible for the Early Headship Coaching Offer, you must be a serving teacher in a school or organisation in England and have completed your early careers training.