- Strategic and visionary educational leadership
- Supportive staff, an engaged community and an inclusive and collaborative culture
- Based in Christchurch
About our School:
Elmwood Normal School is a State Contributing Normal school situated in beautiful grounds in the central city suburb of Merivale, Christchurch. With a roll of 510, it offers a six-year programme, catering for Y0–6 children, from which the children proceed to intermediate schools.
We are proud to be a learning community where every child is supported to be an active participant in their own learning journey. Our vision is to inspire lifelong learners who grow into confident, capable, and valued citizens and strive to be the best that they can be.
At our school, we nurture and celebrate the values of Respect (Whakaute), Independence (Motuhake), Creativity (Auaha), Collaboration (Mahi Tahi) and Excellence (Hiranga). These values are woven through everything we do—from our classroom programmes to our playground interactions.
Our newly developed buildings offer rich and vibrant spaces, designed to encourage curiosity, growth, and meaningful learning experiences. Our dedicated team of teachers and support staff bring skill, enthusiasm, and care to every aspect of their work, ensuring tamariki receive the highest quality education.
We value highly the partnerships we build with whānau and our wider community. Together, we create a supportive environment where every child can thrive.
Elmwood Normal School was appointed by the Government to serves as a model for teacher training and educational best practice in Aotearoa New Zealand and provides a major teaching practicum facility for the six universities, and other Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers nationwide. Elmwood is proud of its status as an exemplary school and contributes at national policy level to ITE in Aotearoa.
About the Role:
We are seeking a passionate and experienced educational leader, to lead our dedicated team and ensure our tamariki receive the highest quality education. You will be supported by an enthusiastic and skilled leadership team in a school designed to encourage meaningful learning experiences.
As the Principal of a Normal School, you will be influencing ITE across the motu, contributing to our future teachers in Aotearoa. This includes leading ITE partnerships, contributing to teacher development and engaging with New Zealand Normal and Model School Association and the wider sector.
Our new Principal will be:
- An experienced and dynamic educational leader, with significant prior experience and a demonstrated track record, bringing established leadership credibility and leading research-informed practice
- A strategic planner – innovative, developing a forward-thinking direction that builds on great foundations of a school, thinking outside the box whilst honouring what works well
- Skilled in supporting staff wellbeing and advocacy, valuing the team and supporting the positive culture
- A child-centred decision-maker – prioritising student wellbeing and success, ensuring equity and respect for all children, passionate about education, and an enabler of diverse learning experiences
- Visible, present, and approachable – regularly in classrooms and the playground, knowing children and staff personally, accessible and engaged in daily school life.
Our new Principal will have:
- Proven skills in overseeing the business of the school, using resources effectively and efficiently, addressing problems promptly and being transparent with decision making
- Experience engaging with multicultural communities, celebrating diverse cultures and having a deep understanding of the needs of varied families
- Strong relationship building skills across all key stakeholders – with an ability to build trust quickly, creating authentic connections with students, staff, community, Board, and the Ministry
- High emotional intelligence, known for creating a warm and caring environments and with excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
- Cultural competence with experience honouring Te Ao Māori, and an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- A demonstrated commitment to be involved at a policy level and on advisory panels with the Normal & Model Schools Association.
Leadership or experience in a Normal or Model School, contributing to ITE would be an advantage.