Settlement recognises complex principals’ job

Media Release
11 Dec 2007

Settlement recognises complexity of principals’ job

Secondary principals yesterday ratified a settlement that at last recognises the complexity of their jobs, New Zealand Secondary Principals’ Council chairperson Arthur Graves says.

They had waited a long time to achieve a collective agreement that specifically recognises the unique demands of a secondary principal’s job, he said.

The new three year collective agreement delivers similar base rate increases to those in the secondary teachers’ collective agreement.

It also includes two new payments that recognise the leadership role of a secondary principal in expanding the engagement of students in their final three years of schooling and the experience they bring to their job.

These are a new Realising Youth Potential Payment (RYPP) of $2000, plus $3 a year for each Year 11 to 15 student, and an individual payment of $3000 after three years’ experience in the role.

Mr Graves is pleased that the critical role secondary principals play in supporting senior students in their training and work decisions has been recognised.

“It is encouraging that the government has finally acknowledged there are added demands on secondary principals that primary principals do not have.

“It is also pleasing that through these payments the whole remuneration package for experienced principals lift by an average of 17.8% over three years. This will certainly help present being a secondary principal as a viable career option.

“The secondary sector certainly needs to be able to continue to attract and retain quality leaders and the NZPPTA secondary principals’ council welcome this outcome,” he said.

ENDS

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