While agreeing with most of your editorial on the announcement regarding the National Professional Qualification for Headship (TES, November 14), I do query whether the fact that the qualification is to made compulsory is to be “welcomed unequivocally”.
It may desirable that every headteacher is properly prepared for leadership through some sort of formal qualification, but why should this particular qualification or indeed any similar qualification be made compulsory?
Surely this is one application where the much derided market forces should be allowed to determine the outcome.
I would argue that making the qualification compulsory through legislation almost devalues it before it has really got off the ground. It will now become, regardless of how good it may be, another rung or hurdle on the career path of aspiring heads.
DANIEL CALLAGHAN
47 St Kilda Road, London W13
