The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

The mental health needs of tamariki and rangatahi have undoubtedly increased post-COVID, and schools are often the places where these issues emerge because of the relationships between teachers, young people and their whānau. Getting mental health support for students can be difficult, which can make looking after the wellbeing of students difficult. But there are things schools can do, and others they must do, to look after the wellbeing of their ākonga.

My guests are:

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

Additional information

Health and Safety https://www.education.govt.nz/education-professionals/schools-year-0-13/health-and-safety

NZCER wellbeing@school survey https://www.nzcer.org.nz/assessments/surveys/wellbeing-at-school

Stymie https://about.stymie.co.nz

Questions

1:00 [Both] What kinds of mental health issues are you seeing in your kura?

5:21 [Patrick] Are there legal requirements for tumuaki around mental health of tamariki and rangatahi?

14:03 [Both] How can a new principal can get a handle on the level of need around mental health within a kura when they first start?

16:20 [Both] If a school counsellor is extremely concerned about a particular student, are they likely to come to a tumuaki with those concerns, and if so, how does a tumuaki respond? 

17:46 [Both] What if there is no counsellor and it's just you. How do you handle it at that point? 

19:12 [Both] Where there is a need for a student to have more support, it is increasingly difficult to be able to help them find that support. How do you handle that?

21:42 [Both] If the worst happens and a student takes their own life, what happens in a school, what does a tumuaki do?

23:40 [Patrick] What are the rules about what you can and can't say about the death?

25:19 [Both] What kinds of things can you do to to help yourself through something like that? Because you don't come away from it unscathed.

26:34 [Both] What's your advice to new tumuaki around trying to help tamariki and rangatahi deal with just the myriad of mental health challenges they face today?

In this episode, we continue talking about crisis management, including extreme weather events and events that can’t be foreseen, like the Christchurch mosque attack.

My guests are:

• Rowan Milburn, principal at Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Dealing with extreme weather events and the impact they have on a kura and its community

• Roles and responsibilities of the school crisis management team and how they worked in practise

Additional information

Emergencies and traumatic incidents https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/

Responding after a crisis https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/responding-after-a-crisis/

Preparing for emergencies, traumatic incidents, evacuations and lockdowns https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/preparing-for-emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/ (links to emergency management plan templates and emergency planning guide)

Nine-step checklist https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/School/Traumatic-incidents-and-emergencies/Traumatic-Incidents-Checklist-2018.pdf

Questions

00:57 [Nori] Can you tell me about the weather events that have affected Tolaga Bay in recent years?

1:20 [Nori] How do those weather events affect the kura? 

2:17 [Nori] How do you plan for these events, knowing as you do now that they’re becoming more and more frequent? 

8:13 [Rowan] Nori was talking about things that you can anticipate there. But one thing no one really saw coming was the Christchurch mosque attacks. Can you tell me how that unfolded for you?

17:44 [Rowan]

So the collective trauma from events like that, how do you as a leader help your ākonga and staff through these things?

25:46 [All] Did any of you want to add anything else?

All sorts of emergencies, traumatic incidents, evacuations and lockdowns may impact on your kura, and as tumuaki you will lead the response.

In this episode, we’ll talk about planning for incidents where you can, and where you can get help with your response to them.

My guests are:

• Rowan Milburn, principal at Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Crisis planning

Additional information

Emergencies and traumatic incidents https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/

Responding after a crisis https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/responding-after-a-crisis/

Preparing for emergencies, traumatic incidents, evacuations and lockdowns https://www.education.govt.nz/school/health-safety-and-wellbeing/emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/preparing-for-emergencies-and-traumatic-incidents/ (links to emergency management plan templates and emergency planning guide)

Nine-step checklist https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/School/Traumatic-incidents-and-emergencies/Traumatic-Incidents-Checklist-2018.pdf

Questions

1:52 [Kevin] Emergency planning is really important for a kura, what kinds of things should a tumuaki ensure is covered in a school's emergency planning? 

3:06 [Kevin] What kinds of things should your emergency management plans cover?

3:31 [Kevin] Aside from the plans themselves, what other preparation should schools be doing to prepare for emergencies and other incidents? 

5:00 [Kevin] Tell me about crisis management teams within a school.

6:18 [Rowan and Nori] How are your crisis management teams made up? 

8:20 [Kevin] Can you tell me about Traumatic Incident teams and what they do? 

10:07 [Kevin] The emergency planning guide and nine point checklist – can you tell me a bit more about those? 

11:30 [Kevin] What kinds of things do the guidelines cover? 

12:00 [Kevin] What are the most common crises that you see in your role as a member of a traumatic incident team?

12:54 [Nori and Rowan] At which point would you call in the Ministry's traumatic incident team?

15:27 [Nori] What kinds of crises and emergencies have you dealt with in your 27 years?

As the leader of a kura, you'll most often be the one who receives and has to deal with complaints. You may also have to handle employment issues from time to time, maybe even your own. In this episode, we talk about how to handle them.

My guests are:

• Patrick Ikiua, Director of Professional Practice for Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (New Zealand School Boards Association)

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Complaints policies

Additional information

Managing complaints https://www.education.govt.nz/school/managing-and-supporting-students/student-behaviour-help-and-guidance/stand-downs-suspensions-exclusions-and-expulsions-guidelines-part-2/section-3-actions-of-last-resort/managing-complaints/

Dealing with complaints https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Managing-your-school/Guides-for-managing-your-school/Dealing-with-complaints

Concerns and complaints (NZSBA) https://www.nzstaresourcecentre.org.nz/?aId=ka0GB000000pcNOYAY

NZEI https://www.nzeiteriuroa.org.nz

SPANZ https://www.spanz.school.nz

NZSBA https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/

Questions

00:45 [Patrick] Why is it important for schools to have a good complaints policy? 

2:23 [Mārama, Louise] Where is the line between someone raising a concern and that becoming a complaint? 

4:41 [All] What kinds of complaints are most common in your experience?

8:57 [Patrick, Louise] If a complaint is received against a tumuaki, where do they go for help?

11:35 [All] What is the process if a staff member makes a complaint or lodges a personal grievance?

14:20 [All] And if someone makes a complaint about a teacher, what should a tumuaki do?

15:35 [All] And what should a tumuaki do if they're dealing with an allegation of misconduct? 

18:31 [Louise] At which point would a school employee approach NZEI or another union for help?

19:48 [Mārama] What kinds of things, if anything, can a principal do to avoid employment relationship issues? 

21:18 [All] What are your best tips for handling complaints and employment issues?

As a tumuaki you'll be leading both teachers and support staff, and making sure they're treated fairly, feel supported, know about their entitlements and have opportunities to learn and grow, can help create a great work environment. In this episode, we talk about how you can support your staff and your obligations to them.

My guests are:

• Patrick Ikiua, Director of Professional Practice for Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (New Zealand School Boards Association).

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Things that impact on the wellbeing of kaiako

Additional information

Understanding school employment https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Managing-your-school/Guides-for-managing-your-school/Understanding-school-employment

NZEI https://www.nzeiteriuroa.org.nz

SPANZ https://www.spanz.school.nz

NZSBA https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/

SUE reports https://www.edpay.govt.nz/site/reports/sue-report.aspx

Resourcing: Operational funding and staffing entitlements https://www.education.govt.nz/school/funding-and-financials/resourcing/

Teaching Council https://teachingcouncil.nz

Questions

1:31 [Louise] What kinds of issues do you hear about from your kaiako members around their well-being?

2:17 [Mārama] When you were a teacher, what kinds of things did you notice impacted on your wellbeing?

3:07 [Mārama] What can tumuaki do to look after the well-being of their kaiako?

4:34 [Mārama] As a new tumuaki coming in to a school, how can you put kaiako at ease to help them feel less anxious about someone new starting?

6:06 [Mārama] How can a tumuaki make sure your leadership team functions well and that they feel valued and confident in their roles?

8:09 [Mārama] What would your advice be for new principals around introducing the idea of change and then making it happen?

11:42 [Patrick] Under which laws does a school board, and the tumuaki is part of that, have responsibilities to their staff?

12:39 [Patrick] What does it mean to be a good employer?

14:04 [Patrick and Louise] What kinds of employment agreements can apply to kaiako and kaimahi?

17:14 [Mārama] How can a new tumuaki going in find out which agreements are covering the staff in their school?

19:47 [Mārama and Louise] What are the requirements and responsibilities around PLD for the staff in your schools?

21:25 [Louise] What can NZEI help new principals with?

23:14 [All] What’s your advice for looking after kaiako and kaimahi in your school?

A crucial part of being a tumuaki is recruiting teachers and support staff and setting them up for their role in your school, and that's what we're talking about today. In this episode, we cover the recruitment process, your options for recruitment during a teacher shortage, incentive schemes, and helping them settle in.

My guests are:

• Maynard Scott, National Employment Relations Advisor Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa - NZSBA

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Who has the power to appoint staff in a school

Additional information

Workforce Initiative Searcher for Principals https://workforce.education.govt.nz/principals-and-schools/initiatives-schools-and-kura/workforce-initiative-searcher-principals

Questions

1:08 [ Maynard] Can you tell me who in a school is responsible for the recruitment of teachers and support staff? 

2:34 [Maynard] What are the steps in the recruitment process?

3:33 [Maynard] What are and aren't you allowed to do in that recruitment process? 

5:30 [Maynard] Once you've made the offer and the role has been accepted, tell me about the kinds of agreements or contracts that kaiako and kaimahi might be employed under.

6:59 [Kate] There's been a chronic shortage of teachers in recent years in New Zealand. What do you think has contributed to this situation?

7:54 [Kate] What's your experience of this in your own school? Have you had issues with recruitment yourself?

9:58 [Kate] Do you have similar challenges with recruiting support staff?

10:36 [Kate] Do you often look overseas for teachers, or what other options do you look at if you can't find people within New Zealand?

12:06 [Kate and Merlin] How can a new tumuaki find out about recruiting from overseas?

13:55 [Merlin] What different incentive programmes does the Ministry run for teachers?

16:41 [All] There was talk a while back about using LATS - people with limited authority to teach. Can you tell me a bit about what they are?

18:06 [All] What advice would you give new tumuaki about recruiting kaiako and kaimahi?

26:18 [Kate] When a new teacher does start your school, what kinds of things do you do to induct them into the school and teach them the way things work?

27:36 [All] What can tumuaki do to retain kaiako and kaimahi?

In this episode we discuss the importance of consistency of approach when managing behaviour. We also cover behaviour management frameworks, and what you should and shouldn't do when dealing with serious incidents.

My guests are:

• Vaughan Couillault, President NZ Secondary Principals Assn, Papatoetoe High School

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Building a culture in your school that promotes good behaviour, including knowing the tamariki in your kura, and getting out in front of things before they happen.

Additional information

PB4L https://pb4l.tki.org.nz

Huakina Mai https://pb4l.tki.org.nz/Kaupapa-Maori-Huakina-Mai

Behaviour support (Ministry of Education)

https://www.education.govt.nz/school/student-support/special-education/behaviour-services-to-help-schools-and-students/behaviour-services-and-support/behaviour-support-information-for-teachers-and-schools/

Questions

00:54 [Leanne and Vaughan] When you first start hearing concerns about a student's behaviour, what do you do as tumuaki?

3:28 [Leanne and Vaughan] Most schools have a plan around behaviour management, is that one of the key things for a new tumuaki to get their head around?

7:01 [Leanne and Vaughan] What process should a tumuaki follow after a serious incident?

10:31 [Gretchen] The aim is to keep everyone in school as much as possible, but sometimes that becomes quite difficult. What’s the process for using stand downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions?

12:52 [Gretchen] In the legislation episode you mentioned the ‘Kiwi suspension’. Can you just remind us what that is and why you shouldn't do it?

14:33 [Gretchen] What could happen if a tumuaki doesn't follow proper process?

15:46 [Leanne and Vaughan] Tell me about available behaviour management programmes/frameworks. 

19:24 [All] Where can tumuaki go for guidance if they do have to do stand downs, suspensions, exclusions or expulsions?

23:58 [All] Anything else you want to add that we haven’t covered?

A 2024 ERO report put the spotlight on rising levels of violence and disruption in schools. It’s a trend being seen around the world, and it’s become worse in New Zealand in the last couple of years. Most people stepping into the tumuaki role will have seen poor behaviour in their own classrooms, but what powers do tumuaki have that teachers don’t, and what can tumuaki do to try to mitigate bad behaviour in their schools?

My guests this week are:

• Vaughan Couillault, President NZ Secondary Principals Assn, Papatoetoe High School

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Increasing acuteness of behaviour, especially in very young children; increasing levels of defiance in older children that is reflected in some parents.

Additional information

New Zealand Principals Federation https://nzpf.ac.nz

Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand https://www.spanz.school.nz

ERO report – Time to Focus: Behaviour in our Classrooms https://evidence.ero.govt.nz/documents/time-to-focus-behaviour-in-our-classrooms-summary

Stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions guidelines https://www.education.govt.nz/school/managing-and-supporting-students/student-behaviour-help-and-guidance/stand-downs-suspensions-exclusions-and-expulsions-guidelines/

Questions

Eleisha 1:42 [Vaughan and Leanne] Were either of you surprised by the findings of that report earlier this year around behaviour in schools?

Eleisha 4:33 [Vaughan and Leanne] What kinds of behaviour have you each seen in your kura that has surprised you in the last few years? 

Eleisha 7:35 [All] Do you think parent disengagement is contributing to that behaviour, or do you think there are other reasons why it's become increasingly bad over the last few years?

Eleisha 9:43 [Vaughan and Leanne] Do you think Covid has contributed to it in a big way? Or do you think that it's been snowballing over the last few years?

Eleisha 12:00 [Gretchen] People stepping into the tumuaki role have been teachers themselves so they will have seen poor behaviour in their own classrooms. But what powers do tumuaki have that teachers don't?

Eleisha 13:06 [All] What’s the best way for new tumuaki to get their heads around rules around stand down, suspension, exclusion and expulsion rules and regulations?

Eleisha 17:32 [Gretchen] What advice do you give in your sessions for new tumuaki about dealing with parents? 

Today we’re continuing to talk about the health and safety responsibilities of tumuaki for people at your school. Today we're focusing on education outside the classroom – EOTC – more about the planning that's required, the risks, and what can happen when things go wrong. We’ll hear from Murray Burton, principal of Elim Christian College at the time of the 2008 Mangatepopo canyoning tragedy, in which six students and a teacher lost their lives on a school trip.

My guests this week are:

• Patrick Walsh, qualified lawyer and tumuaki of Sacred Heart College in Auckland

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• The three tiers of EOTC planning – all about the EOTC guidelines, EOTC safety management plans, and the toolkit of EOTC forms which support the approval process (links below)

Additional information

EOTC guidelines https://eotc.tki.org.nz/EOTC-home/EOTC-Guidelines

EOTC safety management plan template and toolkit form templates https://eonz.org.nz/eotc-management/eotc-smp-template-and-tool-kit-forms/

Questions

1:00 [to Fiona] In the last episode, you talked about the checklists for schools when they're planning trips outside the classroom, and you mentioned the EOTC guidelines and what they cover. Can you tell me a little bit more about what they cover and how they apply in practical terms when schools are taking students offsite? 

2:41 [to Fiona] Is the planning before the trip the most important thing for mitigating risk on trips off school grounds?

4:15 [to Murray] You mentioned that a number of years ago there was a tragedy for Elim on a school trip. Can you tell me about that please?

7:07 [to Murray] Who was held responsible for that?

8:00 [to Murray] In the aftermath of a tragic accident like that, what kinds of things did you have to do as tumuaki – what was the process?

16:01[to Murray] Does your planning differ now for activities like this, or would you approach any trip the same as you approached this one?

19:16 [to Murray] There was recently a similar tragedy on another school's caving trip, and you got in touch with the tumuaki there to offer your support. What advice did you offer them?

20:33 [to all] We've talked a lot about mitigating risk in this conversation. What advice would you give around the best ways for tumuaki to mitigate risk around health and safety?

The health and safety of people at your school is one of the big responsibilities shared by tumuaki and school boards. As the principal, you have the most significant health and safety role in your school, and understanding your responsibilities should be a priority when you start in your new role. This episode covers your legal obligations for health and safety, what should be covered in a school’s health and safety policy, required planning and documentation for trips outside the classroom, the dangers of teachers and parents not understanding their role on a school trip, problems with blanket consent forms, and handling violent incidents in the school.

My guests this week are:

• Patrick Walsh, qualified lawyer and tumuaki of Sacred Heart College in Auckland

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• The health and safety obligations of a principal, and their purpose

Additional information

EOTC guidelines https://eotc.tki.org.nz/EOTC-home/EOTC-Guidelines

EOTC safety management plan template and toolkit form templates https://eonz.org.nz/eotc-management/eotc-smp-template-and-tool-kit-forms/

Questions

2:40 [to Patrick] What are the legal obligations of a tumuaki when it comes to health and safety?

4:31 [to Patrick] If something goes wrong, who can be prosecuted?

5:56 [to Patrick] There’s a level of personal responsibility for health and safety though?

6:38 [to Patrick] How can a new tumuaki get their head around all they need to know about health and safety legislation and their responsibilities? 

7:33 [to Patrick and Murray] What should be covered by a school's health and safety policy?

9:52 [to Murray and Patrick] What kind of planning should you do before you head off the school grounds?

12:30 [to Patrick] What about parent help?

16:01 [to Patrick and Murray] If a school takes a student on a class trip without parental consent, what can the consequences be for the tumuaki and for the school? 

17:46 [to Patrick and Murray] What kinds of plans should schools have in place for violent incidents and dealing with them?

20:55 [to Patrick] What about incidents between students from your own school?