Rotorua educator steps down from national body

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh.

A Rotorua principal who has fronted a national body during some of the most tumultuous and challenging times in education has decided to step down.

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh has spent the past 10 years serving on the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand, including three years as its chairman.

During that time Mr Walsh has dealt with, among other things, the Novopay debacle, the introduction of communities of learning and the class-size debate.

He has also chaired several taskforces, including the ones responsible for the surrender and retention guidelines and cyber bullying guidelines.

"The rate of change during the last decade has been unprecedented in the sector," Mr Walsh said.

"Despite criticisms made of the sector, people can be proud of what New Zealand education has achieved.

"We still have some way to go in areas like lifting the achievement of Maori and Pacific students, but when we are compared with other OECD countries we compare favourably."

Mr Walsh said he had enjoyed visiting other schools around New Zealand as well as seeing school systems in Australia, Canada and the United States.

"I am amazed and in awe of the huge amount of work being done in our secondary schools by our educators, who go above and beyond what is expected.

"I've also had the pleasure of working with highly talented and highly skilled people in the Ministry of Education and Ministers of Education.

"The great thing about New Zealand is how accessible they are - it's such an important factor that is not afforded to other education sectors around the world.

"I decided to step down because 10 years is a long time to serve in a national executive and now it is time to get back fully into John Paul College and find new ways to service the sector."

Mr Walsh will officially step down at the next national conference in April.

"It has been a great journey and an absolute privilege to be able to serve on the national stage."