Changing the way we educate

By Danielle van Dalen

Nelson Mandela is credited with saying: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” It…

Supporting the village raising our children

By Danielle van Dalen

An African proverb claims that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit Policy seems an…

Death to deciles

By Kieran Madden

The Government is about to drive school deciles out of town. Good riddance. What will replace the much-maligned decile system?…

‘Cash for class’ a bankrupt idea

By Guest Author

According to PISA, 42% of New Zealand students are skipping school at least once every two weeks. Why are kids…

“Beautiful as heaven, lonely as hell”

By Julian Wood

I have heard friends of mine visiting New Zealand describe it as “beautiful as heaven, and lonely as hell.” If…

Social skills to pay the bills

By Kieran Madden

Modern workplaces are like preschool. Our schools and homes should be too. At preschool “children move from art projects to…

What’s happened to Finland’s schools?

By Jane Silloway Smith

Spend any time with an education reformer and you’re likely to hear something about Finland. This Scandinavian country of 5.5…

Back to school

By Jane Silloway Smith

Uniforms are washed and ready to wear; iPads are fully charged; and backpacks are laden with fresh stationary supplies –…

Policy Paper: Joining Forces – nine ways to improve leadership in New Zealand schools

By Luke Fenwick

What is the “magic” of great school leaders, and how do we replicate it? What does it look like when…

Research Note: Anchoring the Abstract – what good school leadership looks like

By Luke Fenwick

What is the “magic” of great school leaders, and how do we replicate it? What does it look like when…

A look at Labour’s education plan

Labour leader David Cunliffe pulled the covers off Labour’s shiny new education policy at the recent Labour Party Congress. With…

What’s happening with National’s school leadership policy?

Remember how the National Party announced a $359 million School Leadership policy in January this year? Earlier this month we…

Game Changers – on leading and learning

By Maxim Institute

At Maxim Institute’s event “Game Changers | on leading and learning” at the University of Auckland Business School on May…

What you need to know about the Nigerian kidnapping

By Jeremy Vargo

#bringbackourgirls It’s likely you’ve seen at least something recently about the terrifying kidnapping of over 300 Nigerian schoolgirls by an…

Leaders, mentors, and you

By Danielle van Dalen

I vividly remember my first year at high school: being one of the new kids, totally captured by the world…

Inspired by the evidence

Sixteen years ago, I got a diligence award from school. I had no idea what diligence was, and when I…

What difference do school leaders really make?

Think of a leader, any leader. I’d bet very few people would first think of a principal. It’s more likely…

Greens put state at the heart

By Jane Silloway Smith

The Green’s proposed policy to put “schools at the heart” by turning them into food, welfare, health, and other social…

National’s School Leadership proposal

By Jeremy Vargo

School leadership burst onto the election year programme during John Key’s State of the Nation speech, when he announced $359…

David Shearer and political bravery

By Jane Silloway Smith

I’ve always liked David Shearer – and really, who wouldn’t? The guy dedicated his early adulthood to helping some of…