Graham and Taylor on improving schools

A very good column in the NZ Herald by the former principals of Auckland Grammar and Kings – Sir John Graham and John Taylor respectively. Their recommendations:

• We need to be far more pro-active and bold in attracting, retaining and rewarding high quality teachers
• The role and importance of the Principal needs to be more effectively recognised, supported and rewarded
• NCEA should be fixed to make it more acceptable to, and adopted by, all secondary schools throughout NZ
• The Board of Governance structure set up under Tomorrow’s Schools 20 years ago should be reviewed and enhanced
• There should uniformly higher expectations and insistence on basic disciplines and respect for the rules

Performance pay for teachers is well overdue. The top teachers should be on over $100,000 and the top principals close to double that.