$350K bonus for problem Northland schools

Two Northland principals could receive up to $350,000 extra in their pocket in an effort to attract fresh leadership to problematic schools.

Opononi Area School and Mangamuka School were two of five schools across the country given the new Principal Recruitment Allowance.

The grant is initially $50,000 per year for a three-year period, but can be extended for another four years. The allowance aims to recruit successful principals to fill current openings at schools facing significant challenges.

However, the grant has drawn criticism from teachers' unions who argue the money should be spent on students.

It was introduced as part of the Government's flagship education policy Investing in Educational Success worth $359 million over four years.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the fact two of the schools were in Northland was an acknowledgement of the challenges schools in the area faced in recruitment. Both Northland schools would benefit from a fresh start under quality leadership, Ms Casey said. Neither school responded to requests for comment by edition time.

Opononi Area School has had nine principals, or acting principals, in nine years. It also has a declining roll, high staff turnover, significant under-achievement and a history of Ministry of Education intervention.

A community member, who has been in the area for 20 years, said she felt "very positive" about the grant. The school was the hub of the community and, if it had a good name then that would attract families and more economic opportunities, she said.

Mangamuka School, which had a ministry commissioner appointed in May last year, had unsuccessfully tried to recruit a principal on two occasions. Students, all of whom were Maori, were "significantly underachieving", Ms Casey said.

While the school was small, with only 13 students, it was important that rural schools like Mangamuka School had quality leadership, Ms Casey said. "Every child at every school deserves a chance at a good education ..."

Incoming principals have to meet a range of criteria including experience turning around a challenging school, lifting student achievement, working with diverse learners and good ERO reports. They are also assessed each year before being given the grant. Principals get paid between $78,000 and $147,000 per year depending on the size of the school.

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman said he thought the grant was a waste of money. "What they've got to look at is the overall picture rather than throwing money at it."

New Zealand Principals' Federation president Denise Torrey said there was no research that showed a correlation between paying extra money to a principal and better learning outcomes for children.