Revision of professional standards for secondary principals
14 April 2009
The professional standards for secondary school principals are being revised. The current standards were published in 1998 in the Ministry of Education document Principal Performance Management: A resource for boards of trustees and principals.
Revision of the professional standards has been led by secondary principal sector groups, which believe it is time to revise them. There has been an enormous amount of change in education since 1998. The student population is more diverse and the principal’s role has become more complex. There are greater demands on schools to deliver across a range of outcomes for all students, with a particular focus on success for Māori, Pasifika, students with special needs, and youth at risk of disengaging from education.
The research from the last decade is clear about effective leadership practices. Secondary principals often lead large, complex organisations and play a critical role in leading change and improving student outcomes. These practices are explained in Kiwi Leadership for Principals (KLP) and will be reflected in the revised professional standards.
Groups involved in the revision
The revised professional standards are being developed by a core working group comprising representatives from these organisations:
- Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand
- New Zealand Secondary Principals’ Council
- New Zealand School Trustees Association
- New Zealand Teachers’ Council
- Ministry of Education.
Feedback on the draft standards
The organisations represented in the working group will consult with their executives and members to get feedback on the draft standards. The working group will be supported by other expertise as required.
Standards completed by term 4
It is planned to have the standards completed by October 2009. This will give school boards time to incorporate the revised standards into principals’ performance agreements for 2010.
Tags: Systems and Policy
