Secondary Principals' Sabbatical Leave

The application form and guide are now available for download on the right hand side of this page.

What is a Secondary Principals’ Sabbatical Award?

A Secondary Principals’ Sabbatical Award is a period of 10 school week’s leave available to a principal as part of their career. Leave is provided to engage in a balance of professional learning, reflection and rejuvenation.

How many awards are available?

Each year there are 45 awards available to principals, in state or state integrated secondary schools, covered by the Secondary Principals' Collective Agreement (SPCA).

What does the award provide?

The award recipient receives their normal salary from the school while on leave. The award funds relief costs to the school, in accordance with the SPCA, for the duration of sabbatical leave.

Leave may be taken, with the board’s approval, in one or two blocks. The blocks must be whole weeks in duration, with the minimum block being 3 weeks.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for a Secondary Principals’ Sabbatical Award, you must have:

• at least five years' service as a secondary or area principal in a state or state integrated school at the time of taking the sabbatical
• the support of the board of trustees, including any agreed costs

How do I apply for this sabbatical?

If you wish to apply, download the application form and guidelines from this page and send your completed application form and study proposal to us postmarked no later than 29 June 2012.

Please post or courier your application to one of the following addresses:

Post: Study Awards, TeachNZ, Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140
Courier: Study Awards, TeachNZ, Ministry of Education, 45-47 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington, 6011.

How are applications assessed?

Each application is assessed by a selection panel comprised of representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association, Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand, New Zealand School Trustees Association and the Ministry of Education.

Applications are ranked on the quality of the proposal provided by each applicant and how well they address the selection criteria and selection factors. The professional learning activity to be completed must also be within an approved field. For more information please see the award guidelines.

What professional learning have previous recipients completed?

You can read about previous recipients' professional learning on the Educational Leaders website here.

Contact Us

If you have any questions please contact TeachNZ by calling 0800 165 225 or emailing teacher.studyawards@minedu.govt.nz.