Latest issue
Kia ora koe, welcome to the 2026 Term 2 NZ Principal magazine. As we push further into this election year, we’ve really ramped up our advocacy work to influence political policy. The 2026 election manifesto has been a significant undertaking by the NZPF, led by our outstanding Research and Policy Officer Kim Hailwood. Moot in […]
While there is so much on top for us at the moment including the overwhelming volume and pace of change from the Education Minister, my speech to regional principal association presidents and sector leaders at our NZPF Moot specifically focused on the importance of leading, learning, and advocating, threaded together by something we all know […]
Every year, regional presidents and sector leaders come together for the NZPF Moot. It’s always an exciting time to catch up and plan for the year ahead. This year was no exception, with much-loved host Jehan Casinader returning to keep the event in order at the InterContinental in Wellington.
The Google Doc that feels locked Imagine a Google Doc that holds your school’s curriculum and key priorities. In most schools, that document is alive. People copy it, comment on it, reshape it, and improve it. Some stay close to the original, others take it further, but the work gets better because professional judgement is […]
Agency is, at least, two sided. I see it as the degree of freedom and opportunity – the “capability”, to use Martha Nussbaum’s term – you have as principal or tumuaki to act within your school community and in the schooling system as a whole. ‘At the time of writing’ (a necessary qualifier in this […]
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In classrooms from Kerikeri to Invercargill, a quiet revolution is taking place. It isn’t defined by the latest gadget, but by a fundamental shift in how ākonga connect with the world. As schools grapple with student engagement and the evolving NZ Curriculum, a critical question has emerged for leadership: How do we generate greater engagement […]
Ireland’s current primary school curriculum : a significant year for Irish education – and . With the long-standing 1999 curriculum now being phased out, there have been a number of in-service days for teachers to prepare them for the changes ahead. So what exactly is changing, and what will it mean for children in primary […]
Jo Grant is the founding principal of Te Rau Horopito, one of New Zealand’s newest schools. Fresh off an exciting stopover on her leadership journey, having helped set up UHub in Upper Hutt, Jo is exhilarated by the unique possibilities of starting a school while the community it’s set to serve grows alongside it. Haere […]
The NZCER National Survey of Schools has shown that only 18% of teachers in primary settings have any level of interest in becoming a principal in the future. The survey also shows that the longer someone is in a teaching role, the less likely they are to aspire to become a principal. Growing new leaders […]
The principal is the thermostat of the school, not the thermometer. A mentor doesn’t just teach you how to read the temperature; they show you how to set it to ‘hope’ when the halls feel cold. Todd Whitaker, 2011 Whilst tucking into my hot cross buns and awaiting Cyclone Vaianu, I am reflecting on how […]
Let’s say your new ERO report is generally positive, but it includes a line like: “Inconsistent teaching quality across classes.” Colour coding aside, that’s enough to worry a parent and, as you well know, some will make an appointment to see you about it. Others will just arrive unannounced. With recent changes to ERO reports […]
PASL is seeing an increase in principals receiving a “Letter of Expectation” from their Board. These letters are not officially formal warnings, but they often set out purported wrongdoing and what the Board expects of the principal going forward. While a Letter of Expectation can be an appropriate tool, it can also have real employment […]
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Physical education and sport are about more than just teaching skills or running laps – they are about giving every student the opportunity to move, play, and belong. For teaching staff, planning PE lessons that meet the needs of diverse classrooms can be challenging. Inclusive sport plays a vital role in strengthening school culture. It […]
All the time, Every time, All of us, Everywhere! The intentional transformation of a failing school By Iain Taylor Leadership is the beating heart of every successful school. The story of Iain Taylor’s journey at Manurewa Intermediate is not only a great read, it is also a beacon of optimism in an educational landscape that […]
