REPORTS: PPTA Principals' Council

Report from NZ Secondary Principals Council (NZSPC) August 2009

Kate Gainsford (pres PPTA) reported on visit to Canada on pros and cons of principals belonging to teachers union.  It works when a collegial combined approach exists.

UE meeting
VCs and QA met to discuss whether UE needed to be reconfigured.  Universities have perception that tail in UE under NCEA was longer and thinner that under UEBS.  Further meetings required.

Registered teacher criteria
PPTA arguing for wider robust teacher definition that would encompass more, rather than Teachers Council  position which is narrower with more exceptions.  Peter Lind from TC came to talk generally about how we saw this; new criteria on categories for Teacher Reg should be in operation from 2010 for new teachers.
LATS.
Flexibility in these argued for by SPC, especially important in rural schools.  Consultation document to come out shortly
Counsellors
Discussion over whether they were (ought to be) teachers (PPTA) or could be health professionals (TC)

NZASA
I reported on our conference and difficulties with CRT.
EOTC
I reported that draft guidelines (now called EOTC- bringing the Curriculum alive) have been out for consultation and will be at printers shortly.  NO PD programme for roll out so need to attend regional meetings where it is being presented.

Maori Teachers conference
Held recently, good, but numbers down

ACE
Disappointment and concern expressed over end to ACE and  the Minister is unrepentant.
Strong feeling that MOE should support schools with funding needs to fulfil redundancy obligations.

Next Secondary Principals collective
SPANZ have approached SPC re a team effort for this collective.  (They haven’t mentioned Area Schools principals – I think we are better off out of this approach).  SPC met with them but are no clearer on what this would mean in practice or what SPANZ had to offer in collective negotiations.

ERO
Graeme Stoop and Jenny Clark invited to speak to meeting about ERO’s recent publication on PD.  Graeme agreed it was a difficult process but gave some pointers on questions to ask ourselves.  ERO have offered to attend local workshops on self-review.  Also, ERO reorganised into 3 regions under Richard Thornton, Kathleen Atkins and Graeme Randell, North to South respectively, with a new approach.  In answer to concern expressed over stopping of home school reviews he responded they were done on a 10 year cycle but fewer than 20 out of 600 were causing concern.

Minister Tolley
Joined us for dinner.  $50 million cut in Education originally mooted in budget was thought to be from winding back of 1:15 ratios, but now ‘some further work is needed”.

Leaders Forum on Qualifications.
New Chair of SPC Julia Davidson reported on the LFQC meeting.  Feedback is in on standards review.  They are working on trials at each level.  Timelines are being finalised now for each level but it looks as if we will see things well in advance to help with planning for the following year.
Subject endorsement will start 2011.  A school will determine what a subject is and tell QA the what they assess in that subject.  Universities are starting to limit enrolments and set prerequisites that look different to the norm.  See above discussion on UE.

SPC Study Tour (conference)
Booked at Holiday Inn, Wellington, Tuesday to Friday 27-30 July 2010.  One and a half days of high quality speakers and one and a half days school visits. 

Employment Relations Education (ERE)
Good courses on these courses for principals being run by PPTA on demand from regions.  Coming up; Hastings in September and Dunedin in November.

YANTS
SPC Secretary Trevor Bleakly spoke of the importance of involving Young and New Teachers in the professional life of the school.  They are the future of the teaching and giving them opportunities to be involved in decision making encourages them to advance in the profession.

Bill Feasey