The inaugural Assistant / Associate and Deputy Principals networking events, held over the last two weeks around the country brought regional APs and DPs together to connect, explore similarities and differences in their roles, and share challenges and opportunities. The participants came from a range of school cultures, holding roles with diverse responsibilities, all united by their senior leadership positions.
Discussions focused on student leadership, wellbeing agendas, and to a lesser extent, recruitment and retention of staff. The variation of practices across all these areas meant everyone benefited from hearing how others 'do it'. ISNZ member schools range from 20 to 2,500 students, co-educational and single sex schools, preparatory to senior school, and offer a range of different curricula and approaches to teaching and learning. The overwhelming response from participants was that there is real value in building these networks, and that ISNZ should promote this network of senior leaders and run similar events in the future.
Hosting these events within our member schools provided a well-received opportunity to undertake a school campus tour, to meet colleagues over lunch and explore similarities and differences in their roles. We would like to thank St Andrew's College, Christchurch, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington, and Saint Kentigern Boys' School, Auckland.
We are committed to continuing to offer opportunities to bring our APs and DPs together and look forward to holding more events in the future.
