The Principals (Aotearoa | New Zealand)

Instinct and aftermath: John Bangma's story

In this episode, we hear from John Bangma, who was tumuaki of Mairehau Primary School in Christchurch when the 22nd of February 2011 earthquake struck. Three classes of his students were in the CBD. John talks about how instinct took over, the hours of uncertainty waiting for those children to return, and the years of recovery that followed — including how the school adapted its environment and its programme to support children living through prolonged community trauma.

This is the second in a series of conversations with three leaders who have each guided their school communities through significant crisis events. All three were present for this kōrero.

Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

When crisis hits home: Catherine Bentley's story

In this episode, we hear from a tumuaki who found herself on both sides of a crisis at once. When Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawke's Bay in February 2023, Catherine Bentley was leading Hastings Girls' High School, Ngā Rau Huia Ākina, while simultaneously losing her home and navigating the trauma of her own family's displacement. Catherine speaks honestly about the decision to be visible at school while not being okay, about leaning on others through prolonged uncertainty, and about what the experience taught her about equity, community, and her own leadership.

This is the first in a series of conversations with three leaders who have each guided their school communities through significant crisis events. All three were present for this kōrero.

Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

In this episode, we talk to the secondary winners of the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for Raising Student Achievement, Auckland Girls' Grammar School. Maree Flannery and Gavin Morgan discuss the moral imperative behind their work with Māori and Pasifika learners, the introduction of priority learners, and what happened when they removed streaming and reduced prerequisites for senior courses. We discuss their fortnightly extended leadership team meetings, the repositioning of deputy principals as leaders of learning, and their mentoring programme, as well as with the results that followed, including a rise in university entrance from 44 to 92 per cent.

Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

Our guests are:

Maree Flannery, acting principal (usually associate principal) at Auckland Girls' Grammar School in Auckland

Gavin Morgan, acting associate principal (usually deputy principal, teaching and learning) at Auckland Girls' Grammar School in Auckland

In this episode, we talk to the winners of the New Zealand Education Excellence Award for Raising Student Achievement, Manurewa Intermediate. Callum Baird and Ben Nathan discuss how a shift away from inquiry based learning towards structured pedagogy, along with a deeper understanding of scale scores, changed the way staff track and target student progress. We talk about their three cycle reporting model and a cross-subject teacher check-in they call speed dating, their investment in learning support beyond their funded entitlement, and their results, including reading gains of 10.6 scale points, the biggest in ten years.

Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

Our guests are:

Callum Baird, deputy principal of teaching and learning at Manurewa Intermediate in South Auckland

Ben Nathan, deputy principal of guidance and support at Manurewa Intermediate.

In this episode, we look at the more complex side of attendance management, exploring how principals can develop realistic plans for students with health, learning or social challenges without setting whānau up to fail. We discuss how to engage tamariki directly in the process, how to work with families who have had negative experiences of school, what external support is available, and how to communicate about attendance in ways that feel supportive rather than punitive.

Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.

Our guests are:

Angus Woodhams, business lead for attendance management plans and the attendance programme at the Ministry of Education

Brook Bowman, principal at Netherton School in Paeroa

Ben Hancock, tumuaki of Tauhara College in Taupō