Aspiring Principal Programme
Take the next step in your leadership career and apply for the Aspiring Principal Programme
The Aspiring Principal Programme accepts 200 applicants each year who want to make the move to become a principal. The programme is open to experienced educators with high levels of leadership aspiration and potential. You do not need to be an assistant or deputy principal to apply.
Before applying, consider:
- Do I intend to apply for principal roles within the next 2 to 3 years?
- Am I ready to commit to a year-long programme while meeting expectations of my current role?
- Can I demonstrate leadership experience from my current or previous roles?
If you answered yes to all three questions, then don't miss out, applications are open for the 2027 intake until 5pm, 30 September.
Purpose of the programme
The programme is designed to:
- Build confidence and capability for principalship.
- Explore what is required to successfully lead a school.
- Gain insights from experienced principals.
- Reflect on leadership strengths and development areas.
- Prepare for future principal roles through practical learning and mentoring support.
It also provides many opportunities to build and expand your professional network.
What you can expect if accepted
If accepted, you will get:
- One to one mentoring with an experienced principal to help support your leadership development.
- Opportunities to work with other aspiring principals at a national conference and regional termly wānanga.
- Practice-based growth and development through completing an in-school leadership inquiry.
- An Individual Leadership Plan to help you reach your principalship potential.
- A contribution from the Ministry for your school to support your success.
The opening screen reads "Introducing the Aspiring Principal Programme."
Two Māori women face the camera. Along the bottom of the screen, text introduces the older woman with a moko kauae as Ngaere Durie, Principal at Te Kura O Manunui and Aspiring Principal Mentor. The younger woman is introduced as Casey Patuawa, Aspiring Principal.
Casey speaks,
It's been great working with Ngaere. We can have a laugh. We've built a really good relationship with each other. And sometimes she will rephrase and reword things that I don't quite know what I'm saying or what I'm asking. She's really good at challenging me. She's really honest, which I think is really important during this. And one of the things that I've really appreciated is that I don't have to know all the answers.
Ngaere speaks,
You don't need to know all the answers.
Casey speaks,
There's so many things that you learn by walking alongside someone that you probably wouldn't have had the experience otherwise. She shows you things that you didn't quite know you needed to know. She asks you questions, challenges you, deepens your understanding of things, and then shows you a different way, or maybe a better way, of doing things than you initially thought.
Ngaere speaks,
It's been great to be able to reflect with Casey, alongside Casey. Not to Casey, but with Casey. It gives you a space where you can both problem solve, process, follow through, but also just allows you the time to be together. When you get through that first barrier of just getting to know each other. Then you start building trust. And then with that you can really ask the hard questions and go a bit deeper.
Casey speaks,
I knew Ngaere was a good fit for me because right from the beginning, our values aligned. From the moment we walked in, although it was definitely getting to know you, she challenged me from day one. She got me to dig really deep and initially what I thought was just going to be a "hi, how are you?" Ended up definitely not.
Laughter
The other reason is, with our values, one of the things that I was looking for was a school that valued Te Ao Māori as well as Te Ao Pākehā and Ngaere's school does that awesome.
Ngaere speaks,
She's a young aspiring Māori leader so that was a real big plus for me to be able to work with and alongside someone like that.
Casey speaks,
Yeah, it's definitely been a valuable programme, being able to meet a whole lot of people, network with people in a similar boat with you. But also having a mentor, you don't get the opportunity very often. So being able to have Ngaere, being able to e-mail her if I've got questions, use her as a sounding board, feel things out if I'm not sure, that's invaluable. And I feel lucky that I walk out with a new friend as well.
Ngaere speaks
Yeah, well, you're vulnerable, right? So you have to explore your vulnerable side, which is often quite uncomfortable. But at the same time, you get to celebrate. So trying something and seeing if it works, but then saying to someone, ohh. And you know you've got your own cheerleader. And that's on both sides, not just on the mentor to mentee side. Yeah, it's reciprocated.
Casey speaks
And I know this programme only lasts technically a year, but I can guarantee that when I do become a principal, I know I'll be able to call Ngaere and she'll be there to support me.
Ngaere speaks
Yep. That's so true. Laughter
Casey speaks
That wasn't a token answer. No, that's actually for real.
Ngaere speaks
Just thinking about it, it does provide so much that you just won't get on the day-to-day job. You just get lost and I'm busy, I've got to do this, do that. And there's no other PD like it. No.
And end screen reads "Apply for the Aspiring Principal Programme."
The opening screen reads "Introducing the Aspiring Principal Programme."
A young Māori woman speaks to the camera. Text at the bottom of the screen introduces her as Casey Patuawa, Aspiring Principal.
Casey speaks,
I wanted to take the next step in becoming a principal because I love being in the classroom, but being a principal has the greatest impact. As a principal, you can guide, you can create, you can make a culture that defines where people go and not only impacts kids but impacts staff as well. I want to be able to grow people, grow kids and build something that people will remember.
Initially, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a principal. I was scared to take the next step. I thought it would be about all the nitty gritty things, but actually it's about growing who you are as a person and growing your leadership. And so, most of it has been about people.
Signing up for this programme has made me realise that I can and that there are people that will be able to support me. All those worries that I had, the fears that I had that I wouldn't be good enough, that I wouldn't know enough, So many people that are in the same boat will help you along the way, will teach you as you go and finding your people that can support you through that, that's one of the biggest lessons that Ngaere taught me.
Ngaere has had a huge impact on my journey. It's great having a mentor that's not necessarily in your school. That means you can talk really openly. It means that you get a different context and there's no bias behind it. The way that she's interweaved iwi stories and Māori naturally throughout her Kura, it's something that I really aspire to.
Finding a person that can challenge you, can ask you those deeper questions, that doesn't just validate you, but also gives you the support and the knowledge that you need to be able to take that next step. They make you look deeper at yourself. And sometimes the questions in your head you don't even really know what they are, but they're able to articulate that for you. There's definitely times where I've questioned something or I've done something and Ngaere has worded it in a different way and I've been like, ohh, yes, of course. We talk a lot about what we aspire to, but being able to see that in action and seeing that what she preaches is what you see and feel when you walk into her Kura is really important.
The other most important relationships that I've formed is through our community of practice, being able to network and meet with and talk with all the other aspiring principals that are in a similar boat. We all come from really different schools, really different contexts, so seeing how they deal with things, talking about the issues that come up, the learning that we've had is invaluable.
There are loads of different areas of leadership, finances, there are contracts, there are all the logistical things that happen everyday. But then there's all the relationships with whanau, with staff and with kids and ultimately that's why we're here. We're there for the best outcome of kids.
Don't let things hold you back. If you're scared, if you think that you're out of your depth, just know that everybody else is in the same boat with you and that's probably the reason you're doing it. Jump in, jump in with both feet, learn everything that you can because there is so much that you get from the programme.
The relationship that you have with your mentor is invaluable. Seeing different contexts, seeing different things, being able to talk to a whole range of different people. There are things that you learn in this programme that you couldn't learn anywhere else.
If you are thinking about applying for the Aspiring Principal Programme, do it.
And end screen reads "Apply for the Aspiring Principal Programme."
Applying for the programme
To apply for programme, you need to complete an online application, be endorsed by a referee and, if you are shortlisted, attend an interview with your principal and a Ministry Leadership Advisor.
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- be currently employed as a permanent teacher (at least 0.6 full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE)) in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school or kura
- hold a Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Tūturu | Full Practising Certificate (Category One)
- have a minimum of 4 years FTTE teaching experience, including at least 2 years in New Zealand state or state-integrated school settings
- have the support of your principal | tumuaki.
Principal support and referee choice
Before you start your application:
Secure the support of your current principal | tumuaki. Your principal will support your participation in the programme and help you complete the programme’s requirements, such as the in-school project.
Find a referee. They could be your current principal, a previous principal you worked with or another professional. They must have relevant education sector and principalship experience and be able to assess your suitability for the programme. Your referee will complete an endorsement form, which is part of your application.
Instructions for referees
All applicants must have a referee endorsement to be considered for the programme. Referees will be asked to assess the applicant’s leadership potential in several capability areas. The referee endorsement is part of the application process. Applications are not complete until referees submit an endorsement form.
Key programme dates
Contact us
If you have any questions about making an application or acting as a referee, we’re here to help.
