Understanding school cultures
School cultures focus on learning, teaching, and gaining an understanding of 'what we value around here'.
Best Practice: A Technocrat’s Dream!
by Dean Fink
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This article looks at creating school leaders. The author argues that lists for “best practice” to measure school leaders against does not equate to successful leadership. The only kind of practice that principals need to concern themselves with is the kind that contributes to and enhances students learning.
Kenakena School
Bruce McDonald discusses bringing the focus of the school back to curriculum.
The Ethical Development of School Principals
by Neil Dempster
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In this conference paper, Neil Dempster suggests there is a relationship between the contemporary political climate of school leadership and an increase in ethical dilemmas faced by principals. This link also takes you to a number of other papers that focus on ethics and leadership.
Culture Shift Doesn’t Occur Overnight – Or Without Conflict
by Rick DuFour
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In this commentary, Rick DuFour examines an area currently under close scrutiny in New Zealand: the impact that teacher practices have on student learning. He asks, “What happens in our schools when, despite our best efforts in the classroom, a student does not learn?”
Te Kura Kaupapa o Māori Manawatu
Debbie Marshall-Lobb discusses how relationships are everything and how the principal plays a really powerful role in terms of shaping culture.
Exploring School Culture
by Jane Turner and Carolyn Crang
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This article describes an interactive seminar on school culture held for educational professionals and parents.
Improving relationships within the schoolhouse
by Roland Barth
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This article is a very readable comment on the importance of quality professional relationships among the adults within a school. Roland Barth has considerable experience as a principal and as someone who mentors principals in a leadership programme.
Oranga School
Juliet Small discusses moving towards the culture of Oranga School.
Gisborne Girls High School
Gisborne Girls High school is part of a local, a national, and an international community. Karen Johansen feels celebrating success is an integral part of the school culture.
Leading Learning and Teaching Primary Schools
by Geoff Southworth
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In this article, Geoff Southworth draws on research findings, inspection evidence, and first-hand experience to describe four strands that, woven together, seem to form the thread of leadership and leading "learning and teaching" schools.
Lincoln High School
Linda Tame has discovered the power of teacher learning. The staff and the students realise that learning at Lincoln High School is changing.
Frimley School
Malcolm Dixon shares his ideas for building a culture of success through teacher professional growth and digital technologies.
St Patrick's School, Kaiapoi
Maureen Kerr discusses changing from management to professional leadership.
Selwyn Ridge School
Merryn Muir discusses developing the culture in a new school.
Nawton School
Creating Culturally Safe Schools for Māori Students
by Angus Macfarlane, Ted Glynn, Tom Cavanagh, and Sonja Bateman
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This article looks at ways to create culturally safe classrooms in New Zealand schools. It focuses on ways in which teachers and schools can create inclusive environments for Māori students, and reminds us that all students benefit from being in culturally inclusive classrooms.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe
Noema Williams discusses building on a whānau/marae model.
School Culture
by Louise Stoll
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In this article, Louise Stoll explores the relationship between school culture and school improvement.
Ashhurst School
Shona Oliver discusses leading people and building community relationships.
Thinking About Principalship
by David Stewart
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In this article, originally developed for the First-Time Principals Programme, David Stewart explores the link between effective principalship and school cultures that supports learning. He overviews the work of a number of theorists who argue that successful leadership stems from a particular form of school culture – one where schools are perceived as 'communities' rather than 'organisations'.
What is our School Culture Like? – A Checklist for Analysing a School’s Culture
by Multiple authors
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Leaders can use this evaluation tool to help them analyse their own school's culture.
What Ought I to Do, All Things Considered? An Approach to the Exploration of Ethical Problems by Teachers
by Alan Hall
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This paper is an introduction to exploring ethical issues and problems within the educational context. It includes a brief theoretical framework regarding the importance of taking an ethical approach to solving difficult issues and two compelling case studies from New Zealand schools as examples.
