Advertise on podcast: The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Stuart McNaughton ONZM to discuss his book Building on our strengths: Improving education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rather than focusing solely on the challenges facing our education system, the book argues that understanding and building on what we already do well is key to improving outcomes for all learners. We explore what those strengths are, how they translate to the everyday work of school leaders, and what tumuaki can take from the research to strengthen their own practice and their communities. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guest is Professor Stuart McNaughton ONZM, Professor of Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and former Chief Education Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Education.

In this episode, we celebrate an NZEEA win in the Quality Teaching and Instruction, Junior category with the team from Sommerville School, New Zealand's largest specialist school. We discuss the four pillars behind their award winning workforce strategy and the systems that have helped lift staff retention significantly over the past two years. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Belinda Johnston, principal at Sommerville School Emma Cooper, associate principal at Sommerville School.

In this episode, we talk with Lyndy Watkinson, tumuaki of Avondale College in Auckland, winner of the NZEEA award for quality teaching and instruction at secondary level. Lyndy talks about leading one of the country's largest and most diverse secondary schools, and how that diversity shaped the school's professional learning priorities. She tell us about the the school's Teacher Growth Profile and the principles that underpin it, and how weekly timetabled PLD time has changed the way staff learn together.

Leading through the unthinkable: Blair Dravitski's story In this episode, we hear from Blair Dravitski, who was principal at Linwood Avenue School in Christchurch on 15 March 2019, when the mosque attacks took place 300 metres from his school gate. Blair talks about the six-hour lockdown, the decisions he made in real time, and the long work of supporting a community — including Muslim students and whānau — through grief, fear, and recovery. We then hear from all three guests in this series as they reflect together on what the education system needs to understand better about principals leading through and beyond crisis. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Blair Dravitski, tumuaki at Te Uru Tarata, Lemonwood Grove School, and former principal at Linwood Avenue School in Christchurch Catherine Bentley, leadership advisor at the Ministry of Education and former tumuaki of Hastings Girls' High School, Ngā Rau Huia Ākina, in Hastings John Bangma, former tumuaki of Mairehau Primary School in Christchurch.

Instinct and aftermath: John Bangma's story In this episode, we hear from John Bangma, who was tumuaki of Mairehau Primary School in Christchurch when the 22nd of February 2011 earthquake struck. Three classes of his students were in the CBD. John talks about how instinct took over, the hours of uncertainty waiting for those children to return, and the years of recovery that followed — including how the school adapted its environment and its programme to support children living through prolonged community trauma. This is the second in a series of conversations with three leaders who have each guided their school communities through significant crisis events. All three were present for this kōrero. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

When crisis hits home: Catherine Bentley's story In this episode, we hear from a tumuaki who found herself on both sides of a crisis at once. When Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawke's Bay in February 2023, Catherine Bentley was leading Hastings Girls' High School, Ngā Rau Huia Ākina, while simultaneously losing her home and navigating the trauma of her own family's displacement. Catherine speaks honestly about the decision to be visible at school while not being okay, about leaning on others through prolonged uncertainty, and about what the experience taught her about equity, community, and her own leadership. This is the first in a series of conversations with three leaders who have each guided their school communities through significant crisis events. All three were present for this kōrero. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

In this episode, we talk to the secondary winners of the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for Raising Student Achievement, Auckland Girls' Grammar School. Maree Flannery and Gavin Morgan discuss the moral imperative behind their work with Māori and Pasifika learners, the introduction of priority learners, and what happened when they removed streaming and reduced prerequisites for senior courses. We discuss their fortnightly extended leadership team meetings, the repositioning of deputy principals as leaders of learning, and their mentoring programme, as well as with the results that followed, including a rise in university entrance from 44 to 92 per cent. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Maree Flannery, acting principal (usually associate principal) at Auckland Girls' Grammar School in Auckland Gavin Morgan, acting associate principal (usually deputy principal, teaching and learning) at Auckland Girls' Grammar School in Auckland

In this episode, we talk to the winners of the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for Raising Student Achievement, Manurewa Intermediate. Callum Baird and Ben Nathan discuss how a shift away from inquiry based learning towards structured pedagogy, along with a deeper understanding of scale scores, changed the way staff track and target student progress. We talk about their three cycle reporting model and a cross-subject teacher check-in they call speed dating, their investment in learning support beyond their funded entitlement, and their results, including reading gains of 10.6 scale points, the biggest in ten years. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Callum Baird, deputy principal of teaching and learning at Manurewa Intermediate in South Auckland Ben Nathan, deputy principal of guidance and support at Manurewa Intermediate.

In this episode, we look at the more complex side of attendance management, exploring how principals can develop realistic plans for students with health, learning or social challenges without setting whānau up to fail. We discuss how to engage tamariki directly in the process, how to work with families who have had negative experiences of school, what external support is available, and how to communicate about attendance in ways that feel supportive rather than punitive. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Angus Woodhams, business lead for attendance management plans and the attendance programme at the Ministry of Education Brook Bowman, principal at Netherton School in Paeroa Ben Hancock, tumuaki of Tauhara College in Taupō

Over the next two episodes, we explore the changes to attendance requirements for New Zealand schools, including the new attendance management plans and the stepped attendance response (STAR) framework. We hear from a Ministry of Education business lead and two principals about how the reforms are landing in practice, from recording daily attendance and using the new national codes to building the kinds of relationships that get tamariki through the door. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: Angus Woodhams, business lead for attendance management plans and the attendance programme at the Ministry of Education Brook Bowman, principal at Netherton School in Paeroa Ben Hancock, tumuaki of Tauhara College in Taupō

In the first episode of Season 3, we speak with two winners of the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership. The award recognises schools that have led significant change for student success, and both of our guests today have done exactly that. David Graham leads Goodwood School, one of the largest rural primary schools in New Zealand, where practical, low-cost changes to teaching practice, classroom design and attendance have lifted student outcomes significantly. Jane Stanley leads Westlake Girls High School in Auckland, where post-COVID shifts in student engagement prompted a whole-school response focused on belonging, teacher capability and student growth. Hosted by Eleisha McNeill. Our guests are: David Graham, tumuaki at Goodwood School in the Waikato Jane Stanley, tumuaki at Westlake Girls High School in Auckland Additional information New Zealand Education Excellence Awards - https://www.education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/scholarships-and-study-awards/new-zealand-education-excellence-awards

This is the fifth and final episode in a special five-part Leading Curriculum podcast series, sitting alongside a range of curriculum leadership resources available on Tāhūrangi. This series features principals across a range of contexts talking about how they are making curriculum implementation work in their setting. For more resources, visit Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium. In this episode, we explore how schools track and analyse the impact of curriculum implementation and change. We discuss how leaders are creating clarity around learning intentions and success criteria, and how formative assessment (notice, recognise, and respond), keeps assessment embedded in everyday teaching, and how professional growth cycles, inquiry, and observation are used to evaluate the quality and consistency of teaching. Our guests share how they strategically use tools, processes, data, and information to measure the impact of change and improvement for both learning and teaching. Hosted by Lisa Morresey, Leadership Consultant at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga. Our guests are: Denise Horley, Principal of Sandspit Road School | Te Kura o Rangiaawhea Abby Honey, Deputy Principal Curriculum at Northern Health School

Curriculum Leadership podcast series  Podcast 4: Leading coherent programmes and strengthening consistent practice – secondary contexts  This is the fourth episode in a special five-part Curriculum Leadership podcast series, sitting alongside a range of curriculum leadership resources available on Tāhūrangi. This series features principals across a range of contexts talking about how they are making curriculum implementation work in their setting.  For more resources, visit Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium.  In this episode, we explore how secondary leaders and their staff collectively shape teaching programmes to meet the needs of their students. We discuss how two schools are making sense of curriculum sequences and high-impact teaching approaches, how they are building coherent pathways – including academic, vocational and trades – and how they are strengthening consistent, high-quality teaching practice across their kura. Our guests share what has worked in their own schools and offer practical insights for secondary leaders navigating curriculum change.  A note on kāhui ako - Many schools are collaborating effectively in professional learning communities. Some have chosen to continue to use the name “kāhui ako” to describe this, as you will hear in this podcast.  Hosted by Lisa Morresey, Leadership Consultant at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga.  Our guests are:  Mikaere October, Tumuaki of Trident High School, Whakatane  Dr Miranda Makin, Principal of Rototuna Senior High School, Hamilton

Curriculum Leadership podcast series Podcast 3: Leading and shaping your teaching programmes in primary, intermediate and rural schools This is the third episode in a special five-part Curriculum Leadership podcast series, sitting alongside a range of curriculum leadership resources available on Tāhūrangi. This series features principals across a range of contexts talking about how they are making curriculum implementation work in their setting. For more resources, visit Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium. In this episode, we explore how primary and intermediate leaders are shaping teaching programs and building coherent year-by-year pathways, particularly in multi-level settings. We discuss how tumuaki are pacing curriculum implementation with their teams, making sense of the year-by-year sequence in English and mathematics, and strengthening consistent, high-quality teaching practice across their schools. Our guests share practical approaches that are working in their own kura and offer advice for school leaders navigating these challenges. Hosted by Lisa Morresey, Leadership Consultant at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga. Our guests are: Jane Corcoran, Tumuaki of Brunswick School, Whanganui, and Vice President of the New Zealand Rural and Area Schools Leadership Association (RASLA) Darryl Gibbs, Principal of Cambridge Middle School | Te Kura Takawaenga o Kemureti, and President of the New Zealand Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools (NZAIMS)

Curriculum Podcast series Podcast 2: Building trust as you lead curriculum implementation This is the second episode in a special five-part Leading Curriculum podcast series, sitting alongside a range of curriculum leadership resources available on Tāhūrangi. This series features principals across a range of contexts talking about how they are making curriculum implementation work in their setting. For more resources, visit Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium. In this episode, we explore how leaders build trust, support people through change, and use simple, effective tools alongside their middle leaders to implement curriculum well. We discuss how to create a culture where adults and students feel safe to learn and grow together, how to navigate tension when views on teaching and learning differ, and the practical tools and routines that keep implementation clear, doable, and well-supported. Our guests share deliberate and strategic acts of leadership from their own kura and offer practical advice for principals at any stage of the journey. Hosted by Lisa Morresey, Leadership Consultant at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga. Our guests are: Suzanne Billington, Principal of Tauriko School, Tauranga Cameron Mitchell, Principal of Tauranga Intermediate School