Founder of Impact North West Schools Achieves Prestigious National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)

Impact North West Schools (INWS) is proud to announce that Founder and Chair of the Proprietor Board, Holly Cottrell, has successfully achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). This milestone underscores the school’s dedication to leadership excellence - and its mission to provide effective specialist education for young people across the Wirral.

Already an established and highly experienced senior leader within the local secondary sector, Holly’s achievement of the NPQH solidifies her dedication to ongoing Continuous Professional Development - not just for herself but for all of the staff at Impact North West Schools. This qualification serves as a formal validation of the school’s alignment with Department for Education standards, Ofsted quality assurance, and the latest in educational leadership theory and research.

Holly’s leadership is deeply rooted in her extensive work with local schools and leaders across the borough, and this qualification further strengthens this collaborative approach, ensuring INWS remains at the forefront of specialist provision for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs.

"Achieving the National Professional Qualification for Headship is about ensuring our school remains grounded in the best possible practice as we grow," says Holly Cottrell. "It is important that our leadership team leads by example when it comes to lifelong learning, always with the goal of achieving the best outcomes for our students".

This achievement comes at a period of significant momentum for the school. Following a 'Good' Ofsted rating and recent DfE approval to increase its student capacity to 94 pupils, INWS is rapidly becoming a regional "Centre of Excellence" as ratified by the Inclusion Quality Mark. The school recently celebrated a 100% success rate for its Key Stage 4 cohort, with every student achieving meaningful qualifications - a transformational result for young people who were previously disengaged from mainstream education.

Professional growth is a shared priority at Impact North West Schools. The school is currently supporting several Early Career Teachers as they complete their ECT years, and it continues to work in partnership with Edge Hill University to help train new teaching talent. Guided by the school’s motto, "I’m positive about change today,"

Holly is now preparing to work toward the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) to ensure the school’s long-term stability and its mission to support every child in its care.