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.
The Resilience Institute Wellbeing (and Resilience) is high on the education agenda. It is an exciting but confusing opportunity. Principals confront multiple options, parental pressure, expert advice and personal bias. If we consider the next decade in education, most accept that wellbeing will become a key responsibility in every school community. We have much to […]
WHEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ABANDON THEIR DESKS . . . Liz Hawes Editor John Cleese, of ‘Fawlty Towers’ acclaim, once visited But vibrancy, flashy structures and picture post-card scenery are Palmerston North and famously said, ‘If you wish to kill yourself not what the locals of ‘Palmy’ are here for. The 78,800 inhabitants but lack […]
LLB, B Com, Van Aart Sycamore Lawyers Limited Having had the privilege of more than 15 years involvement in school governance across both state and integrated schools, this article is intended to be an open letter to Principals setting out some suggestions and ideas I have learnt along the way. None of this is based […]
Principal of Opunake Primary A group of four rural schools in the South Taranaki region have made a commitment to explore new technologies and how to best implement them in their schools. The MOA Kluster, as they call the group, attended the 2016 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference to learn new technologies […]
Editor His TED Talks have reached hundreds of thousands of viewers. ‘Governments got interested in education for economic He is heralded as the great hope of all educationalists trapped in reasons,’ he said, ‘and that was mostly counter-productive.’ The the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM). His counter cry was for standards to be raised and […]
LLB, BA, B.Ed, PG Dip Child Advocacy, Employment Lawyer As the school’s professional leader and the Board’s Chief 4. Ensure the Board has complied with its obligation to advise you of the potential outcome of the meeting (i.e. what Executive you will have numerous meetings with your Chair, disciplinary action you may be facing); and […]
Cultivating Magnificent Citizens Liz Hawes Editor Kia tupu ai ēnei kākano hei rakau nui. May these tender seedlings grow into mighty trees Māori metaphors are such elegant expressions. They are sharp and discerning and provoke thinking and imagery at many levels. They also project the values and aspirations of the people who adopt them, thus […]
At Waikato, we’re answering this call by preparing people like you to become highly regarded educational leaders. Te Aroha College Assistant Principal Samantha Mortimer enrolled in the Master of Educational Leadership to help with her personal journey to Principalship. As well as gaining a practical new insight into student progress and achievement, Samantha’s study has […]
Remuera Primary School (RPS) in Auckland nestles modularly into a park-like basin, just below the pavement level of Dromorne Road. The high decile school draws its population of 600 children mostly from the well-heeled Remuera neighbourhood. It has a long history dating back to its establishment in 1873. By 1906, with a roll of 439, […]
If you asked people what were the most memorable days of their lives, an overwhelming majority would answer, their school days. Most kids will tell you they don’t like school and moan and groan about going every day, but schools are special places where our earliest childhood memories, friends, achievements and also disappointments happen. One […]
