The New Zealand Secondary Principals' Council (NZSPC) represents secondary and area school principals who are members of PPTA.

The independent voice of NZSPC reflects the unique role principals play in the education system - a voice that is often sought by educational bodies, policy makers and the media.

NZSPC also negotiates the Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement with the Ministry of Education on behalf of principal members. A PPTA advisory officer acts as advocate in conjunction with Council members on the negotiating team.

Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement

At the recent Secondary Principals' Council (SPC) meeting the Council discussed the current situation of industrial unrest in the education sector and how secondary school principals should act in these circumstances.

Being a principal during a period of staff industrial action isn’t easy.

The Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement (STCA) isn’t our collective, so we can’t get too involved, but we want to support our staff and at the same time support our community. We are the meat in the sandwich and it’s often a difficult place to be as we try to avoid being eaten by each group! We thought it might be helpful to remind ourselves of a few things we could do (and not do) which might make our lives easier!

Principals from throughout the country took part in a threeday conference in Wellington late last month that was aimed at engaging them in a number of important aspects of their career.

The ‘Engaging in Wellington’ conference began with a speech by secretary for education Karen Sewell. Participants then engaged with the New Zealand Curriculum through keynote speaker, Australian education and learning consultant, Dr Julia Atkin.

Engaging with the curriculum (Julia Atkins presentation)

A workshop was held to discuss the various aspects of engaging different types of students and a speech was given by PPTA president Kate Gainsford.

NZCER chief researcher Cathy Wylie spoke to principals about a number of issues including moraleand stress levels, staffing, and funding concerns. Delegates rounded up the first day with a dinner with minister of education Anne Tolley at Parliament.

The principals engaged with schools through a series of site visits and heard about working with communities through a presentation by district court judge John Walker.