Leadership development

"As principals develop their own professional knowledge and thinking, they gain a deeper appreciation of the conditions teachers need if they are to achieve and sustain improvements in the learning of each student. While teachers are responsible for ensuring that all students achieve to the best of their ability, they will be supported in their work by their principals’ deep knowledge about teaching and learning."

From Pedagogy: Knowledge about teaching and learning in Kiwi Leadership for Principals.

Ako: being a learner

Leaders who take their own learning seriously and keep their own passion for learning alive act as important role models for their schools. Keeping up to date with the evidence for professional leadership in schools is a fundamental expectation of principals and those leaders who aspire to principalship.

Professional leadership plan 2009–10

The Professional Leadership Plan (PLP) (PDF 253KB) is the framework developed in partnership with NZEI, NZPF, PPTA, SPANZ, NZSTA, leadership researchers, and the Ministry of Education to deliver the goal of providing strong professional leadership in every school.

Kiwi leadership for principals

Principals as educational leaders

The main purpose of Kiwi Leadership for Principals is to present a model of leadership that reflects the qualities, knowledge, and skills required to lead New Zealand schools from the present to the future. At the heart of the model is a clear focus on how we can work together to improve educational and social outcomes for all our young people.

Tū rangatira: te kaitātaki i te mātauranga kaupapa Māori

Tū Rangatira: Ko te kaupapa o Tū Rangatira: Te Kaitātaki i Te Mātauranga Kaupapa Māori, he whakatakoto tauira o te tū hei kaitātaki e whakaata ana i ētahi o ngā tūranga me ngā kawenga matua a te kaitātaki e tino puta ai ngā ākonga Māori i ngā mahi rapu mātauranga.

Tū rangatira: Māori medium educational leadership

Tū Rangatira: Māori Medium Educational Leadership is a model of leadership that reflects some of the key leadership roles and practices that contribute to high-quality educational outcomes for Māori learners. It focuses on leadership practices, providing insights into how effective professional development programmes can work towards strengthening leaders’ capabilities, growing capacity and sustaining exemplary leadership in the Māori medium education sector.

Aspiring principals

This section contains articles that may be of interest to those considering principalship as part of their career pathway.

Modules for First-time Principals

These modules support the First-time Principals Programme (FTP). Although they have been developed for new principals, the modules have relevance for all principals.

Experienced Principals Development Programme

Three hundred experienced primary, secondary, and area school tumuaki and principals are currently taking part in the Experienced Principals Development Programme (EPD) which runs until December 2010.

He kākano: culturally responsive leadership

He Kākano is a significant new in-depth professional learning programme for secondary and area school leadership teams. The programme focuses on growing culturally responsive pedagogical school leadership – leadership that actively takes account of the culture of Māori learners to build relationships that result in achievement success.

Principal professional standards

This page contains information about professional standards for primary and secondary school principals.

Principals' sabbatical reports

This area contains the list of sabbatical award recipients for 2010 and 2009 and also the sabbatical reports submitted over 2007 and 2008. You can also find out more about how to apply for sabbatical leave.

Where are you at in your principalship career?

There are many opportunities to expand your capabilities and skills to meet the exciting challenges that a career in principalship offers. Use this career pathways framework to inform your thinking about career development. This framework will also assist boards of trustees with principal appointment.

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