The aspiring principal programme aims to prepare aspiring principals with clarity, cultural competence, and strategic focus to lead a school or kura. The programme is designed to combine structured learning, collaboration, and personalised support to connect theory with practice, and will be built around three complementary modes of learning:
Self-directed opportunities to explore the role and responsibilities of principalship in response to emerging learning needs. Examples could include online modules, podcasts, and curated resources.
Facilitated, collaborative opportunities to work alongside other aspiring principals to build leadership capability, share experiences, and develop lasting professional networks.
One-to-one mentoring and coaching from experienced principals to provide support as applicants learn, face challenges, reflect on practice, and grow into their leadership style.
Commitment to the programme, including meeting programme expectations, will be carefully managed alongside teacher workload, other work commitments and time constraints.
To further support participant success, the Ministry will make a contribution of three teacher release days to all schools and kura for each staff member accepted into the programme.
Ways to provide support
You can identify potential participants and act as a referee for more than one applicant. They can be a current or previous staff member.
You can also apply to become a programme mentor and be matched with someone accepted into the programme. You cannot become a programme matched mentor of a current staff member. This is to ensure they are exposed to diverse leadership styles.
Existing staff members accepted onto the programme will require your support throughout the programme, alongside the programme matched mentor.
Act as a referee
Each applicant must be endorsed to be considered for the programme. We recommend having a conversation with applicants who ask you to be a referee to confirm their readiness and capacity to participate in the programme.
Guidance has been developed to support referees to complete an online endorsement form assessing the applicant’s strengths and experience. You can act as referee for more than one applicant.
The referee guidance and endorsement form are linked below and included in the popular resources section of the webpage. You will need the applicant's MOE number so your endorsement can be matched with their application.
Programme participants will be matched by the programme provider with principals who have registered to become mentors. You will be matched with a programme participant who is not part of your staff.
Please contact us for additional information not provided in the guidance about the aspiring principal programme, acting as a referee, or becoming a mentor. We're here to help.
