Education Minister Trevor Mallard today released details of a major review of school staffing.

The Minister will chair the Review Group. Former Hutt Valley High School principal Graeme Marshall will be the project manager and deputy chairperson.

Members of the review team announced today and their nominators are:

 Bruce Adin, principal of Fairburn School (NZEI Te Riu Roa);
 Owen Edgerton, Board Chairperson of Central Southland College (NZ School Trustees Association president);
 Arthur Graves, principal of Greymouth High School (joint nomination of Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand and Principals’ Council)
 Geoff Lovegrove, (NZ Principals’ Federation – president)
 Bev Manahi, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi Marae (Runanga o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori);
 Roger Tobin, deputy principal, Logan Park High School (NZPPTA)

“The group will report by the end of February 2001, with recommendations on a long term staffing formula for schools,” Trevor Mallard said.

“These will take into account the circumstances of low decile schools, small rural schools, and schools with teaching principals.

“My aim is to identify the most effective ways to align teacher resourcing and student needs across the various parts of the school sector so we can ensure the best possible learning outcomes.”

"The first task of the Review Group will be to make recommendations for staffing assistance to small rural schools, for implementation next year. The wider review will propose a phased implementation plan, taking into account of issues such as affordability and teacher supply.

"Changes to the curriculum, the needs of Maori and Pacific students, expected changes in the numbers of primary and secondary school age students, the workloads of teachers and principals, and the implications of developments in information and communications technologies will be significant factors."

Trevor Mallard said that while the membership of the group was small, wider consultation throughout the year would give all interested parties the opportunity to contribute to the final recommendations.

Contacts: Moerangi Vercoe (Press Secretary) 04 471 9080 or 025 270 9194

School Staffing Review

Terms of reference

The Review Committee is charged with advising the Minister of Education on overall staffing levels for the schools sector as a whole. This should include consideration of the workloads of teachers and principals, changes to the curriculum, Maori students’ education, Pacific students’ education, and other educational needs.
A set of principles, which will guide the Review Committee in its deliberations, should be developed. These principles will take into account the curriculum needs of students, changes to the national curriculum, changing demographics of the school age population, and changes in information and communications technology.

Recommendations should address the following:

1 A mechanism for improved staffing levels for small rural schools which will be able to be implemented from the beginning of the 2001 school year. The Committee should provide early recommendations on this issue.

2 Recommended arrangements for improving staffing for the school sector in the medium and long term, with particular attention to the needs of small rural secondary and area schools, low decile schools, and schools with teaching principals.

3 A phased implementation plan. This could include up to 10 steps, able to be implemented in a planned sequence to achieve the review’s objectives by the end of the time period.

4 Recommendations should take into account the Government’s Budget priorities, and teacher supply projections.

The Review Committee will provide recommendations by 28 February 2001. Interim reports to the Minister will be provided.

8 May 2000

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