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Principal, Heath Chittenden, is setting up a Tech demonstration on the Ashhurst School courts when I visit. He is surrounded by an enthusiastic bunch of Year 7–8 students, each clutching a light-weight wooden racing car. From his kneeling position, he glances up from his gadgetry, flashes a welcoming smile and explains that he’s taking the […]
In New Zealand, the term ‘principal’ is now an umbrella term for a multiplicity of separate roles spanning governance, leadership, management and teaching. In New Zealand, the term principal is not consistent across our history. If you took a principal from the 1970s or early 1980s and put them into the role today, they would […]
Where concerns are raised a school Board has a duty to take them seriously. Actively promoting a safe school environment is a statutory obligation, reinforced under the Code of Conduct for Board members: I actively promote a safe school environment. I speak up when I see unethical behaviour. I treat all concerns raised seriously. I […]
Successful business often suggests successful leadership and leadership is NZPF business. The question is whether school leaders can learn useful strategies from the business world. Leadership theories and practices are not always compatible in different contexts, but curiosity led me to Furnware, a successful company and long-term partner of NZPF, to find out whether their […]
It won’t be news to anyone reading this article that being a principal is a stressful and demanding job. You have statutory responsibility for the school’s day to day management, and in carrying out your duties you can be faced with some conflicting and occasionally unreasonable demands and expectations from the people you work with. […]
As the digital revolution continues to sweep through workplaces, classrooms and homes, it is our young people who remain the most vulnerable to harm. Whilst parents continue to look to schools and teachers to put boundaries in place, the struggle over screen time boundaries and behaviours continue at home. Technology brings with it many benefits […]
Scam, spam, phish, or sales pitch – there are plenty of emails that you don’t want in your school or kura inbox. But how do you stop the flow of unwanted junk, and find better protection? Because we use email every day, and we often use passwords to access it, email can feel safe and […]
In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is increasingly reshaping the classroom landscape. As educators, it is paramount that we consider the implications of AI on classroom practice, both its potential benefits and challenges. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we teach and learn, […]
Feelings of shame are powerful. As school leaders we work in a range of situations where levels of shame are high. In my first term as tumuaki of a Y0–6 primary school I have spent time supporting a group of children struggling to regulate their emotions. As I have talked through incidents that have led […]
It’s been a regular theme of my columns that as educators not all of our focus should be on our own schools and communities. Rather a lively interest in the wider world can reap many rewards, including for those who follow the daily news. The much reported blunders of some of our central government and […]
Performance appraisal is no longer mandatory for teachers and as of 1 February 2023 for principals. The Teaching Council has replaced it with the Professional Growth Cycle (PGC) which is now a requirement for every teacher’s registration. The PGC is built around the Council’s five ‘elements’ (do you know what the 5 elements are?), with […]
The way we live, the way we work, and the technology we use is rapidly changing. This means that the rules that govern the way we operate must be flexible enough to allow for change, and they must be regularly updated. School policies are no different. Policies are the agreement between the school and the […]
