Section
Practical guidance for the day-to-day work of leading a New Zealand school.
Articles in this section share how-to advice on the operational and relational aspects of principalship: navigating employment law, writing letters of expectation, talking to parents about ERO reports, enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi in school life, mentoring future leaders, and supporting equity in the classroom. Contributors are working principals, sector specialists, employment lawyers, and education consultants drawing on lived experience in New Zealand schools. Use this section to find tested approaches to common challenges, build your professional toolkit, and learn from the practice of colleagues across the country — from country schools to large urban primaries.
At its foundation, the leadership that we undertake as overcomes in the face of adversity. Principals is about the application of a collection of values which are applied consistently and consciously to the everyday cut and Self control – This may surprise many as being one of the top thrust of our role. seven values […]
Ever since the Prime Minister announced the Government’s depicting every child who has ever made a representative team Investing for Educational Success (IES) policy, collaboration has in the history of the school, which dates back to the 1950s. become the buzz word. It’s been talked about such a lot that you ‘It’s not unusual for […]
When you think of Stewart Island and schools, you instinctively think of seas swimming in blue cod and salmon. In fact about fifty different species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs inhabit the Island’s waters including the highly rated crayfish, and the spectacularly famous Foveaux Strait oyster, arguably the most flavoursome shellfish in the world. The […]
How do I write a winning grant application? Jenny Barrett The Writing Room Ltd Want to do something that would benefit your children but can’t find the money? A school can achieve great things through successful grant applications. Although perceived as time-consuming there is a lot of support out there to help you. We talk […]
Stression is a fusion of the words ‘stress’ and ‘depression’. It involves job related stress that stretches physical, emotional and intellectual resources beyond capacity to the point where that work becomes unbearable. Principals know all too well that stression can be an unsavoury and unwanted feature of the job – it can rob the joy […]
Preparing Students For The Future An interview with Gary Yeatman, principal of Awatapu College, Palmerston North on what factors contribute to his College's success Liz Hawes Editor; Keith Dobson Awatapu College – Photographs Awatapu College is home to the secondary students of Takaro in Palmerston North, a suburb which takes in a wide range of social […]
When digital technology first arrived in schools most principals delegated the responsibility for it to an interested staff member, in much the same way as responsibilities such as EOTC or financial literacy are distributed today. As time has passed and the influence of digital technologies has become more pervasive across nearly every activity in which […]
Editor A richly eloquent, vaguely familiar voice transcends the babble of Nelson’s airport lounge. It is Peter Verstappen, here to bustle me off to his school in the little town of Wakefield, just a half hour drive from Nelson city. The trip gives us time to have an informal chat and solve the mystery of […]
The Attributes of the Leadership Sweet Spot and its Five Secrets David J.C. McKenzie In golf you hit the ball with a club that is specially designed with a sweet spot. The sweet spot is the specific area on the head of the club where, with the right technique, the golf ball will go further, […]
Editor We cater for aspiring leaders through the ‘National Aspiring Principals’ Programme’ and support newly appointed principals through the ‘First-time Principals’ Programme’ but what about the leaders in the middle? Where is the professional learning development (PLD) for them? Middle leaders have sometimes been described as the ‘engine room’ of the school. They work closely […]
