Information for first-time principals
Kia ora and welcome to the first-time principals’ landing page. The resources, news, and discussions in this section focus on helping you to understand what it means to be a school’s educational leader.
Professor John Hattie: The Leader as Evaluator
Click on the thumbnails below to view John Hattie talking about: effect size and leadership; expectations and target-setting, and seeing learning through the eyes of students (March 2011).
Professor Viviane Robinson: A Friendly Guide to the Leadership BES
Click the link above to access the highlights from Viviane Robinson's address at the April Residential Course 2010.
Professor John Hattie: Evidence-based Leadership
Click the link above to access the John Hattie Highlights from the October Residential Course 2009.
FTPP Residential Course resources
To access presentations and other resources from residential courses click on the heading above.
School principals lead and manage multiple and complex responsibilities. They are expected to improve the quality of teaching and learning in their schools in an environment in which change is constant. These are even greater challenges for principals who are new to the role.
If you are a first-time principal the following support is available for you:
- Online support materials in: problem solving and managing your school.
- Access to learning modules on: planning and reporting; teaching effectiveness and building trust in schools.
- Information about career pathways.
For principals enrolled in the First-time Principals Programme, a national induction programme for first-time tūmuaki and principals, there is a wide range of other support available including:
- The First-time Principals Programme website.
- Access to learning modules on: planning and reporting; teaching effectiveness and building trust in schools.
- Private discussion forums on the Educational Leaders website.


