A short history of the NPH

The first five years

The National Primary Headteachers' Association (or NPH as it is more popularly known) was launched at Warwick University in March, 1995. Membership is open to headteachers of all schools with primary-aged children. The constitution of the NPH states that the purpose of the association shall be "to achieve the best possible education for Primary children by ensuring that the needs and entitlements of those children are secured." This the Association seeks to do by representing those needs and entitlements at the very highest levels.

"Here is a voice speaking out clearly in the interests of primary education which has hither been lacking and badly missed."

The Association is led by serving primary headteachers. It is not, and does not seek to be, a union and, therefore, does not concern itself with pay, legal advice or the conditions of service of headteachers. If anything, the NPH seeks to be the primary pupil's union!

Primary heads will not be surprised to learn that the Association came about through groupings of primary headteachers united by concerns about the funding of their schools. When representatives from Cornwall, Northumberland and the North West Primary Headteachers' Forum came together to give evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee on this issue it was inevitable that a national grouping would be formed. This move was welcomed by Edward Simpson, former deputy secretary at the DfEE - "Here is a voice speaking out clearly in the interests of primary education which has hither been lacking and badly missed. this could be the most important outcome of all from the select committee's year's work."

"a clear, unambiguous voice to speak up for young children and their primary schools."

The Select Committee's Chairman at the time, Sir Malcolm Thornton, presided over the association's official launch and said that the new group filled "a need for a clear, unambiguous voice to speak up for young children and their primary schools."

In an article about the NPH in the TES shortly afterwards Sir Malcolm wrote "The new organisation will, I hope, provide a sharply-focused, practical and professional view on primary education to the local authorities, the DfEE and the Secretary of State, to OFSTED, SCAA and the Commons Select committee among others, as well as to its members. The NPH must be alert to change and ready to respond when an issue is alive. I wish it well."

NPH is frequently asked to provide speakers for local and national radio and TV programmes including Today, Newsnight and the Six O'Clock News.