King's College Appoints New Head
King’s College is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Leach as Head of the school.
With over 30 years’ teaching experience in New Zealand, the past sixteen as principal, Mr Leach comes to us from Botany
Downs Secondary College where he has led the school since 2005. In that time he has taken the school from a roll of 600
to well over 1800, and where 90% of the students achieve NCEA and results are consistently better than most Decile 10
coeducational schools in New Zealand.
Mr Leach has an outstanding track record as one of New Zealand’s educational leaders. He has served on both the
Ministerial Reference Group for Boys’ Education from 2004 to 2008 and the National Board of Physical Education New
Zealand (PENZ). He has worked with the University of Auckland’s Secondary Teacher Education Advisory Group and has been
a mentor in the First Time Principals programme.
In 2009, Mr Leach took part in the Harvard University Vision for Future Education course, and he has been involved in
the University of Auckland Teacher Training Advisory Group since 2006, helping to shape the next generation of teachers.
Mr Leach played rugby at first class level and although his playing days are behind him, he serves on the Counties
Manukau Rugby Football Union Board. His love of rugby and other sports has lead him to chair the Auckland Secondary
School Heads’ Association - the body that governs College Sport.
The Chairman of King’s Board of Governors, Mr Ross Green, says the Board chose Mr Leach because of his extensive
educational leadership skills, his passion for sport and his philosophy of education.
“Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in leading high-performing schools, but more than that, he understands
the changing face of education, the need to consider the high-tech vision for the future of education and the
traditional areas King’s excels in, like sport and academic achievement. As a New Zealander, Mike understands our
cultural needs and his tremendous experience with students from all backgrounds will serve the school well,” says Mr
Green.
Mr Leach says he is looking forward to the challenge of leading King’s and while being a resident Head will be a new
experience for him, he believes the boarding environment lies at the heart of King’s culture and is looking forward to
becoming a boarder himself.
“The challenge of the position at King’s and the opportunity to lead one of the country’s most prestigious schools is a
tremendous one. King’s is unique in terms of its academic success, its value-rich learning environment and its tradition
and I hope to lead a school that strives for success for its student body.”
Mr Leach attended Auckland College of Education, has a BA in Economics from Massey University, diplomas in Developmental
Studies and School Management and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Unitec.
Michael is married to Jenny, who is principal at an Auckland intermediate school, and has two grown daughters, Michelle
and Natalie.
He takes up the role from the start of Term Four.
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