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E kitea ai ngā taonga o te moana, me mākū koe
If you seek the treasures of the ocean, you'd better get wet.
Kia ora koutou e te Whānau,
The new Government brings new policies for education, but so far, no detail. We congratulate Minister Erica Stanford on her appointment as Education Minister and look forward to working with her to ensure all new policies are in the best interests of our Tamariki, and are well supported by research evidence, our own practical experience, and principles.
Already we know that the Minister wants to focus on the basics with one hour for each of reading, writing and maths each day. We can help the Minister by demonstrating how we do that now through our integrated curriculum. We can show how using our broad curriculum can assist in engaging more children in those basics, which we all agree are foundational to future learning. The broad curriculum is also essential to fostering creativity, critical thinking and innovation. As educational experts are telling us, more than ever we need our young people to learn to think critically. With the acceleration of Artificial Intelligence, our young people need the skills to discern reality from nonreality and truth from fiction, more than ever before. In applying our own principles to evaluating policy, we refer here to principle 4, which reads: Students leave school with the appropriate lifelong competencies and skills to succeed in a fast-changing world.
Another source of pride for our tamariki and our nation is embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our NZ Curriculum - "Te Mataiaho." It reflects our dedication to embracing a different world view – a Māori world view - which opens a window to learn about New Zealand's rich cultural heritage. It creates a bridge to the past, fostering tolerance and understanding. We are very proud of the way our Tamariki are embracing Te Ao Māori and speaking Te Reo, not only in their classrooms but also in their daily lives. This is a sign we are maturing as a nation.
Our principle 1 supports this position: A successful public education system, that gives effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, will lead to a more equitable and prosperous country.
Naturally, we want to know more about the focus of Associate Minister for Education, David Seymour’s policy to reintroduce Partnership or Charter schools. We understand that the associate minister supports more choice for the education system. The ACT party is based on a philosophy of freedom of choice at many levels.
If we examine the most successful education systems globally, we find that those providing the least choice in types of schooling, are more equitable, more successful and of higher quality than those with many options. Increasing the number of private schools (partnership schools are publicly funded, privately controlled, and run as a business model), does not increase the quality of education. Partnership schools are not expected to follow the NZ Curriculum or employ qualified teachers. They may choose their own opening hours and are not subject to the Official Information Act as state schools are. Nor are they subject to accepting enrolments directed by the Ministry. In UK Academy Schools (same model as Charter/Partnership schools) Head Teachers say inequities have increased. The biggest problem to resolve in New Zealand’s education system, is inequity.
All NZ education performance measures tell the same story. Our high performers are at the same level as any other high performing students globally. Our problem is the gap between our high achievers and our low achievers, and international league tables show that the gap has increased. We are not alone. Globally, education inequities are a problem. This policy, to reintroduce Partnership/Charter schools, would fail to improve equity and possibly increase inequities. That would not satisfy NZPF’s principles.
In this issue of Principal Matters we present summary reports from "Ngā Pou e Wha,". I thank the executive for their work and actions taken this year.
Progress occurs when we listen, learn, and act collaboratively. Changes, especially for leadership are making a difference, with more work underway. I thank our Education partners and Sector partners for working alongside us this year – together we have just one goal – to make a positive difference for the future of our Tamariki.
NZPF, is a professional body, dedicated to serving and advocating for principled leadership. Strong school leadership leads to quality education and our Tamariki receive the best teaching and learning we can possibly give them.
We look forward to working with our new Minister to further strengthen principal leadership, and build a resilient, well-resourced teaching workforce. In this way, our next generation will be ready to tackle our nation’s future challenges and live innovative, successful, contributing lives.
As we embark on this new chapter, let us remain committed to what will make a difference - the pursuit of a quality public education that honours our past, embraces our present, and shapes a more tolerant and innovative society.
Ngā Pou E Whā
To listen, to learn, to act.
(This is the last report from Ngā Pou E Whā for 2023)
Pou Tahi - Te Kaiarahitanga / Leadership
Tracy Fraser, Stephanie Thompson, Jason Miles, Leanne Otene
Highlights from Pou Tahi
This year, Pou Tahi has reviewed the NZPF Strategic Goals for 2023, and we want to thank our colleagues for their input, feedback, and ongoing support of our mahi. Here are some of the year’s highlights:
Moot
This year our regional presidents contributed to setting the NZPF agenda for the year and to constructing our election year NZPF manifesto. One of the ongoing useful outcomes of this work was constructing six principles by which we will judge all new education policy as it emerges from the new Coalition Government. Here is a link to the Six Principles.
Leadership
We celebrate the establishment of the Ministry’s Principal Advisory Service under the stewardship of Chief Leadership Advisor, Tim White. There are twelve advisory positions already in place, drawn from a pool of seconded school principals, and it is expected that more will be appointed in the future. The service is available for all principals no matter where they are at in their leadership career. Leadership Advisors are engaged in developing a principals’ induction procedure and are currently piloting their first version.
ERO
We value our connections with the ERO research team, a relationship which has grown in strength this past year. Through our joint discussions, ERO has followed up on several pressing issues, which we believe required further investigation. The research has given us a clearer understanding of principal leadership and wellbeing and we thank all of you who have participated in ERO’s research projects this year. We look forward to continuing this mahi in 2024.
Pou Rua - Te Marautanga / Curriculum
Heidi Hayward, Karen Brisco, Jen Rodgers and Blair Dravitski
Summary of Pou Rua 2023
The work of Pou Rua, this year, has largely been to broker the best possible support from Te Mahau as the refreshed curriculum rolls out. NZPF supports Te Mātaiaho wholeheartedly. We know how important it is to ensure effective professional development supports the kaupapa.
The three consistent messages we have given over the year are:
1. School leaders need urgent access to professional development, so they are can confidently lead the significant changes involved in implementing Te Mātaiaho.
2. The professional development must be delivered face-to-face.
3. The delivery of professional development must be consistent across the motu.
As we look towards 2024 we will continue to advocate for these three messages to be prioritised
Pou Toru - Students / Ākonga / Inclusive Education
Shane Buckner, John Bangma, Phil Palfrey and Gavin Beere
Pou Toru’s focus is on inclusive education and advocating for improved access to and extension of learning support resources and funding. We acknowledge and welcome the increased number of school counsellors and the extension to the Mana Ake programme. We also acknowledge that there is more education funding being directed to learning support than ever before. With the rapid increase in the number of tamariki requiring learning support, however, the funding and resources available to schools fall well short of what is needed.
With a new Government just beginning its first term, Pou Toru will be seeking a meeting with new Minister, Erica Stanford, to point out the growing deficits in funding for learning support. We support a policy of inclusion, but what we can no longer continue to do is compromise our teachers and young people through accepting that a lack of resources and expertise for our high needs students is OK. Nor can we continue to use our operations grants to fund Teacher Aides
We have advocated long and hard to make changes and we will continue to do that in 2024.
We will continue to place the evidence in front of the Minister which shows that so many of our tamariki are missing out on the learning supports they desperately need.
Despite the additional efforts required, our tamariki with special learning needs give back. They provide the richness and diversity within our school populations. All tamariki gain from including these young people in our schools - far more than any textbook could deliver. For example, sharing, tolerance, acceptance of difference, patience, understanding and difference.
From our team to all of you, we wish you a Meri Kirihimete and a relaxing break.
Pou Wha - Te Tikanga Ture/ Policy/ Systems
Hayley Read, Julie Hepburn, Cherie Taylor-Patel
Notable highlights of the Pou Wha group this year include their active involvement in contributing to New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF) submissions and providing valuable advice to principals throughout the year, aligned with legislative changes and requirements. A noteworthy addition this year was their collaboration with Civil Defence to create a 'readiness for a natural emergency' resource tailored for school leaders. This resource is set to be expanded in 2024.
Although the mandated implementation of the 'Professional Growth Cycle' principal development model occurred this year, it is worth noting that the current PPCB and NZEI collective agreements still contain appraisal-related wording (e.g., Professional Leadership and Annual Performance Review). This conflicts with information provided by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa. To navigate this evolving landscape, the Pou Wha team recommends that principals ensure they possess a document outlining the achievement of professional standards. This document should be signed by the presiding member of your school board at the end of the year, offering a clear pathway in accordance with the new expectations.
With a new government, there will be policy changes. NZPF will continue to advocate for and support change that is in the best interests of our tamariki, our rangatira, kaiako, tumuaki and whanau.
Meri Kirihimete me ngā Mihi o Tau Hou.
E kitea ai ngā taonga o te moana, me mākū koe
If you seek the treasures of the ocean, you'd better get wet.
Ngā mihi,
Leanne
NZPF President
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.
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.)
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.
