Effective Boards

Principal Appointments

We know from experience how challenging it is to attract the right persons to apply for the role of Principal and so we go out of our way to ensure the recruitment process is as good as it can possibly be. It is very important to us that a School Board has a least two or three applicants who are strong contenders for the role, because this is the most important decision a board will make.

We work with the School Board on the process and assist in practical ways including coaching of Board Members in carrying out the short-list and final interviews. We can also carry out the reference checking, which is such an important part of the process and psychometric profiling if this is required.

Our experience of recruitment of principals is in both secondary and primary schools state and state-integrated.

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Assisting Boards on Matters of Governance

There is a general understanding of the governance role of a school board. In most schools, the distinction between governance and management roles and responsibilities is understood and respected. However, at times the distinction is less clear and issues can arise which test the board's internal working relationships and the way it relates to different stakeholders. Sometimes these challenges result from deeply held contrasting views. At other times, they may reflect deeper problems in a board's own structure or procedures.

In State and Integrated schools, the Ministry of Education intervenes formally when issues are seen to be compromising student learning. However, boards are usually well able to recognise problems before such formal interventions have to be made.

Ahead Associates is able to help boards with quality independent advice based on the successful experience of our consultants in many different kinds of schools. Such advice may range from working to solve specific governance problems to systematic review of the board's structure and working relationships. It includes the ability to resolve tensions and differences within boards and between governance and management.

Some boards also find it helpful to call on Ahead Associates to provide a mentoring or resource role because of our impartiality.

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Strategic Planning

Your strategic plan needs to be specific to your school community. Your stakeholders need to have input into your plan. We have worked with school boards, planning the process and providing group facilitation of stakeholder groups, parents, teachers, students, community and the board. At the end of the process vision and mission statements have been agreed, strategic goals defined and action plans agreed.

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Policy Development

Because we have been involved as principals, board members and chairs we can provide help with writing and reviewing all policies.

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Professional Development

How long is it since you trained your teaching and non-teaching staff in carrying out appraisal or selection interviews? Does your board need a little help with understanding governance and management issues? Through our own training expertise, and that of our associates, we can provide a full range of training options from an initial needs analysis through to the development of customised programmes.

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