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He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
What is the food of leaders? It is communication.
Kia ora e te whanau
In my last Principal Matters newsletter, I reported that NZPF is crafting its own briefing for the in-coming Minister of Education.
Throughout my regional visits this year I have been listening to you. Repeatedly I am hearing that leadership, policy, curriculum, and learning support are four areas in which you want to see progress.
Leadership
On leadership, you have told me that the Boards of Trustees model of school governance needs reviewing. Principals have no protection if relationships with the Board break down and in other cases, the elected Board members do not have the necessary skills to perform governance functions, which are then left to the principal. The model needs reviewing.
PLD for principals is inequitable and mostly reliant on private providers. Principals, unlike other professionals, do not automatically have access to supervision. PLD that is offered by the Ministry is also not available to all and not always what a school needs. There is no framework for PLD or accreditation of providers. Principals of small and rural schools are disproportionately affected.
The Review of Tomorrow’s Schools recommended the establishment of a Leadership Centre. This was accepted by the Government but has not materialized. NZPF sees the Leadership Centre as a critical mechanism by which principals would access all leadership-related services and support. That would include programmes for Beginning Principals, Aspiring Principals and Experienced Principals. It would offer support, mentoring, coaching and supervision in an equitable way. It would undertake research and a PLD accreditation service and would be operated by a core staff and cohorts of current principals who would be seconded to work for the Centre for two years - on average, a day per week. Having current principals involved means the work of the Centre would have currency and credibility. The functions of the Centre would be fully funded by the Government and operate at ‘arm’s length’ from it.
Surveys measuring the wellbeing of principals have long demonstrated that increasing workloads, absence of career pathways, and barriers to obtaining support for principals’ wellbeing have not been addressed. Early retirements are a concern. As the leadership workforce becomes less experienced, there is even more urgency to address wellbeing and workload issues.
Policy
NZPF recognises that changes of Government often means changes in policy for education. This vexes principals. In the absence of any bipartisan agreement for long-term planning for education, NZPF suggests that all education policy follows a set of principles. You can find these here.
Curriculum & Assessment
Many of you have understandably called for a slow down to the curriculum refresh and the new ‘Know Understand Do’ model. Timely access to PLD for principals, who lead the learning in their schools has further fueled this call. The Common Practice Model of ‘how’ to teach the curriculum has also drawn its critics. One aspect all principals are clear about is that when it comes to assessment, they do not want any form of standardized assessment which does not work for young people who are not ‘standard’. Nor do principals want performance measures of schools that can be used to compare schools through league tables. Progress is the preferred option.
Learning Support
Over time, the incidence of young people needing learning support has increased considerably. Principals estimate one in five students across all types of schools require some level of learning support. New Zealand has adopted a policy of inclusion, which is well supported as the best way to offer public education to all. The policy, however, has never been resourced to be successful. High needs students require high level resources. This includes educational psychologists, speech and language experts, counsellors in all schools, specialist services available to all schools, trauma trained teachers, in-class support, and a generous supply of teacher aides. Principals should not be spending hours of their time applying for assistance with learning support. This should be freely available based on need.
The learning support system is one of the most neglected and under-resourced in education.
These issues will form the basis of our briefing to the new Minister of Education once they are appointed.
Ngā Pou E Whā
To listen, to learn, to act.
Pou Tahi - Te Kaiarahitanga / Leadership
Tracy Fraser, Stephanie Thompson, Jason Miles, Leanne Otene
Induction - Principals deserve better!
In August we commented on ERO’s recently published ‘Everything Was New’ Preparing and Supporting New Principals, which outlined many areas for improvement. One of these is principal induction - or lack of! New principals (1-5 years’ experience) were asked how well supported they felt when they started in their school. The findings showed that 15% of Boards welcoming a new principal, did not provide an induction and 42% did not know if there had been an induction. New principals also reported that the delivery of inductions is inconsistent.
As a result of working through these findings with the Ministry, NZPF was invited to work with Tim White, Chief Leadership Advisor, to co-construct a programme that can be used to support all principals when beginning in a new school. Induction is important for all principals, not just first-time principals. We are pleased to let you know that there has been progress in this work, including regional Te Mahau teams offering to come out to the school and share any relevant information about the school that might be helpful. This might involve the schools’ Education Advisor, leadership advisor and Manager of Integrated Services.
We are also working with Tim White on strengthening other induction areas such as the role of the outgoing principal, neighbouring principals, Kahui Ako/Cluster members, local/regional principals’ associations, and NZSTA. We look forward to continuing this work and sharing more with you very soon. In the meantime if you are leaving your principal job at the end of this term consider the essential information you need to share with the incoming principal.
Pou Rua - Te Marautanga / Curriculum
Heidi Hayward, Karen Brisco, Jen Rodgers and Blair Dravitski
Ministry’s New Online Curriculum Resource
Tāhūrangi– the new bilingual digital home for curriculum content, teaching materials, and news is now available. The platform has been specifically designed to support the teaching and learning of educators.
We hope you will take some time to explore the platform and let us know what you think.
Kaiako can sign in to Tāhūrangi using their Education Sector Logon, giving them access to additional features personalised for their account. They can:
- organise and save resources to create their own collections, which they can access later.
- share those collections with other users that have a Tāhūrangi profile.
- save their language preferences.
The Ministry has reviewed all the content available on the platform. Old or out-of-date content will be retired.
Eventually TKI will be retired and will no longer be accessible.
Exploring this new website might be an activity for your Teacher Only Day. If you have any questions or comments please email the Ministry’s team. at tahurangi@education.govt.nz
Action
Make sure you lock in your 2024 Teacher Only Days and present the dates at your next Board Meeting.
These two days need to be taken between 27 May and 7 June, and 21 October and 15 November 2024.
Pou Toru - Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education
Shane Buckner, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey and Gavin Beere
Pacific Island Education initiatives.
Tautai o le Moana - Wayfinders of the Ocean & Tapasā
The Tautai o Le Moana (ToLM) Trust Board (NZPPA, NZPF, MOE) provides professional learning and development to strengthen leadership capabilities and improve outcomes for Pacific Island students. Its focus is to lead principals to accept, respect and adopt a Pacific Island world view alongside their own world view, in the education setting. All facilitators for this initiative are or have been experienced school principals. The Trust currently works with over one hundred schools across the country lifting Pacific Island cultural competencies for teachers of Pacific Island learners.
TolM uses the Tapasā document and resources to guide the professional learning and development. Tapasā helps inform Pacific Island student achievement aspirations and supports teachers to improve engagement with Pacific Island learners, parents, families and communities.
The current professional development opportunities for Principals are displayed below:
Pou Wha - Te Tikanga Ture/ Policy/ Systems
Hayley Read, Julie Hepburn, Cherie Taylor-Patel
Term four is always frenetic and it is easy to overlook key dates.
Here are a few reminders:
Provisional Roll Review
Are you happy with your allocated staffing for 2024? If you believe that it should be higher, then don’t miss the cutoff date of 17 November. Follow this link to find out Provisional roll review – Ministry of Education
Banking staffing 2023
You should achieve a nil balance by pay period 22 (10 to 23 January). Use the balancing period (pay periods 23 to 26) to help manage any outstanding under- or over-use. The deadline for submitting any retrospective banking staffing adjustments for the 2023 banking staffing year is 5pm, Thursday 30 November. For further information: Calculating banking staffing – Ministry of Education
All staffing applications
Applications are due by 5pm 30 November. This includes beginning teachers, specialist classroom teachers, staffing transfers and staffing roll increases for 2023. The Ministry has said: We will not be processing applications received after this date. The 10-school day student retention for staffing roll increases must be met before or by this deadline. For further information:
Resourcing: Operational funding and staffing entitlements – Ministry of Education
Surplus staffing support
If your school | kura is managing a staffing entitlement reduction for 2024 and must disestablish permanent staff positions, you may be eligible for surplus staffing support to cover the costs incurred by your requirements in the teachers’ employment agreement.
To be eligible for surplus staffing support your situation must meet all the following conditions:
- you have a reduction in your staffing entitlement of at least 1.0 FTTE.
- you have made sound employment decisions.
- you and the teacher agree about their future options.
Boards can apply for surplus staffing support from mid-November to early December.
For more information visit:
Determine whether your school is eligible for Ministry support – Ministry of Education
All applications should be sent to resourcing@education.govt.nz.
If you have any questions, contact resourcing@education.govt.nz.
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
What is the food of leaders? It is communication.
Ngā mihi,
Leanne
NZPF President
Kōtui Ako Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa - Registrations invited for online Primary programmes 2024
Extend curriculum choices for your learners and increase your schools confidence and capability in online and distance learning.
A wide range of language programmes available including te reo Māori and Kapa Haka; also Digital Technology, Creative Arts, Science, Maths and Literacy.
Registrations close Monday 12th February. Classes start the March 4th, Week 5, Term 1.
Find out more and register your interest online Contact primary@kotuiako.school.nz with queries.
All NZ tamariki are welcome to learn with Kōtui Ako - Nau Mai, Haere Mai!
(Schools interested in secondary programmes should contact secondary@kotuiako.school.nz for more information.)
Invitation from US Consulate to School Principals and Parents
You are invited to a free event which the US Consulate is hosting in Auckland on Wednesday, 29 November 2023. This event is the screening of the documentary “The Social Dilemma” at 6:00pm in the Sir Owen G Glenn Building, at the University of Auckland. Following the film there will be a panel discussion to hear from experts and professionals with an understanding of the impact of social media, particularly on young adults. The panelists are:
Nathan Wallis - https://www.nathanwallis.com/pages/about-nathan-wallis
Dr Samantha Marsh - https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/sam-marsh
Dr Jessica Stubbing - https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/jessica-stubbing
Dr Alex Beattie - https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/alex.beattie
Please share this invitation with your parent communities. Parents too are very welcome to attend. Join your NZPF President, Leanne Otene, and immerse yourself in one of the most prevalent social dilemmas in Aotearoa today.
Lindsey Brown's Scripts
Lindsey Brown is an Auckland based playwright and teacher who has written a series of primary and intermediate school productions. These have been designed especially to cater to the incredibly diverse nature of schools around the country. As well as being entertaining, humorous and educational, the greatest attribute in these scripts is their flexibility.
Whatever the size of your school or your budget/ technical resources available, the production can be adapted to fit. Lindsey is also a registered teacher and a listed author with ReadNZ.
She is happy to help you on your production journey, whether that be through conversations about script choice, alterations in the scripts or school visits.
More information can be found on her website lindseyb.me or you can email her at linsadellebrown@gmail.com.
For reference, two of these productions were recently named finalists in the New Zealand Plays for the Young Competition - Zeus Needs a Holiday and Lost in Ever After.
Tui Tuia - Introducing a new Principal Wellbeing PLD for 2024
https://www.learningcircle.co.nz/pld/principal-wellbeing
ImpactED’s Resource Kete for November ToDs
Are you starting to think about your upcoming November ToD focusing on Te Mātaiaho - the refreshed curriculum framework for Aotearoa? Relax and let us take care of the planning!
Select one or more of our 5 curriculum refresh-based sessions, to support your mahi on your ToD. This is our koha to all schools in Aotearoa. You can opt for a fully recorded (push play and go) session, or utilise the slide presentations to make it your own.
We have attached a PDF with all the sessions for easy clicking, or you can select from the individual sessions below.
Te Mātaiaho
Use this recording or presentation to unpack the 7 curriculum components, and gain an understanding of all the bits that make it up.
Essential Pedagogies
This activity will develop your understanding of the Essential Pedagogies in Te Mātaiaho. You will be taken through a process to unpack the content and spend some time reflecting on your current school practice and how this aligns. You can use the recording or presentation to support your mahi.
Common Practice Model
Through this video or presentation, we will take you through a basic introduction of the Common Practice Model... What it is, where it has come from, and the pedagogical approaches and practices.
Maths and English Refresh Content
Unpack the content of the Maths & Stats and the English refresh. Understand what support is available from the MoE. Begin to use the content with some planning templates gifted to you from impactED.
Social Science Refresh Content
Refresh your understanding of the new Social Science curriculum, including ANZH. Use the video or presentation to explore some of the planning templates and resources that can get you started.
PASL Subscription Fee Adjustment
At their most recent meeting, the Board of Directors of the Principals Advice and (Legal) Support Scheme (PASL) agreed to a subscription fee increase from $390 to $440 per year, effective 1 January 2024.
The increase will apply from the anniversary date of the principal’s PASL contract, as it is renewed, after 1 January 2024. Any contract due for renewal between now and 1 January 2024 will be renewed at the existing fee of $390.
The PASL subscription fee has not been increased in the past ten years and the maximum legal support for a single issue has been increased from $25,000 to $30,000 in the past year. The reason for the increase is to cover the increased administration and legal support costs of PASL.
NZ Principal Magazine also Online
You and/or your team members can easily access the NZ Principal Magazines online, as an e-magazine or as a PDF. Additionally you can search for a previous issue, an article by title or by the author of the article. All magazines back to Term 1 2012 are available in this format. To view or search click here.
NZPF assures its business partners that, as members, you will contact them to have a conversation if you are purchasing products, services or solutions for your schools that a business partner supplies. Please support our partners as their assistance to NZPF means better membership services to you.
