ASPIRING LEADERS – 2025

Empowering Leaders.
Transforming Communities.

About

The ASPIRING National Leaders Programme is designed for leaders within the education sector who aspire to accelerate their career through growth in their personal leadership capabilities, as well as add value to their teams and colleagues within their school environment. 

We are finding that the cookie-cutter approach [OSFA] to professional development is failing. Less and less is it able to meet the diverse professional learning needs of teachers and leaders. Thus, we have pioneered an adaptive and individualised approach aptly named: Personalised Leadership Pathways (PLP) for each delegate using a combined development platform that focuses on the interpersonal, leadership and professional dynamics associated with a senior leadership position within the education sector.

The programme is delivered over a three term period (ensuring minimal disruption), it combines vibrant PLG seminars, online learning and networking, and personalised contact with an assigned kaiārahi/coach. Participants explore their own strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and how they relate to leadership goals and day-to-day realities within their individual school context.

A key component of the course is the highly interactive online forum which allows participants to share their journey with like-minded educational leaders across the country. This process is enhanced through participant-generated korero that unlocks the existing skills and experience within the group. In addition to delivering vibrant professional development, the programme sets out to create powerful, lifelong networks.


Objective

Why have a National Aspiring Leaders Programme?

Growth Culture received feedback following the highly successful nationwide Team Leaders Toolbox PLD which uncovered a significant need for a high performing leadership programme that enables high potential education leaders to engage in an intensive, peer-oriented leadership development experience. Whilst mostly deputy and assistant principals have applied, the course is also open to high performing HODs and Team Leaders wanting to further their career progression.

 The National Aspiring Leaders Programme is based upon a framework that focuses on the interpersonal, leadership and professional development of self and how this relates to their role within their school. The National Aspiring Leaders Programme has a broad focus on educational leadership. Noteworthy, only a small part of the programme covers the administrative side of Principalship. However, these components can be individually addressed as you work alongside your kaiārahi, who are all experienced and highly respected former principals. Delegates must have the full support of their school principal to undertake the programme and lead change appropriate to their school’s values.

In addition to enabling real outcomes for individual leaders, the National Aspiring Leaders Programme is recognised as a unique and innovative programme that contributes in a meaningful way to the realisation of equity in relation to formal educational leadership.


Content Overview

The National Aspiring Leaders Programme is designed to develop leadership focused on improving student learning outcomes in schools.

Aspiring NLP is facilitated by a team of several experienced kaiārahi who are all current or former school senior leaders, including Robert Mangan, Ally Gibbons, Grant Lander, Dave Bell, and Pauline Cowens.

The programme also includes:

PLGs

PLG Term One - Auckland (date and venue TBC): Leading Self
PLG Term Two - Online: Leading Others
PLG Term Three - Christchurch (date and venue TBC): Leading Change

E-Modules

9 modules, delivered as 3 korero per term on our personalised forum which provides an on-going NALP professional learning community.

Supplemented by:
- Career development support with the guidance of the kaiārahi.
- Year-long leadership inquiry into change management.
- Optional modules to prepare for principalship

Mentoring Sessions

3 x Mentoring sessions from your own Aspiring kaiārahi (online or come to your kaiārahi).

Professional Readings

"Legacy" by James Kerr.
"Dare to Lead" by Brene Brown.


e-Modules

​E-modules are delivered as 3 korero per term in Terms 1-3 on our personalised forum which provides an on-going Emerging Leaders professional learning community.

Leading Self (Tau 1):

  1. Mātauranga o te Ao Tō (Self-Awareness) me Te Pūmanawa Hinengaro (Emotional Intelligence): This module explores self-reflection, understanding personal strengths and weaknesses, and developing emotional intelligence for effective leadership.
  2. Te Whakatū o te Ārahi (Developing a Leadership Vision): This module focuses on setting personal leadership goals, crafting a vision for student success, and aligning with the school’s mission.
  3. Kaha ki te Whakaora (Building Resilience) me Te Tiakitanga o te Waiora (Self-Care): This module equips aspiring principals with strategies for managing stress, maintaining work-life balance, building time management skills, and building resilience for the challenges of leadership.

 

Leading Others (Tau 2):

  1. Whariki Whakawhānaungatanga (Building Effective Communication): This module hones communication skills for clear and concise messages, active listening, and fostering open communication within the school community.
  2. Whakaute Wāea (Leading High-Performing Teams): This module explores building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating a culture of shared accountability within teams. 
  3. Te Whakahaere Kōrero Aua (Navigating Challenging Conversations) me Te Whakatau Ta rata (Conflict Resolution): This module equips aspiring principals with strategies for managing difficult conversations, facilitating conflict resolution, and fostering a positive school climate.

 

Leading Change (Tau 3):

  1. Te Whakamahi Pūrongo (Data Driven Leadership): This module focuses on using data effectively to inform decision-making, assess progress, and drive continuous improvement. 
  2. Whānau Whanake (Building Stakeholder Relationships): This module explores building positive and collaborative partnerships and networks with parents, teachers, students, and community members to support school improvement.
  3. Whakatō Whakaohoo (Coaching and Mentoring for Growth): This module equips aspiring principals with coaching and mentoring practices to empower and develop the potential of staff. We also explore strengths-based leadership in this module.

 

Generally, each korero involves a 150 word reflection on a leadership element. Delegates are also encouraged to comment on and provide feedback to team members’ responses to further deepen the korero and their own thoughts.

Optional modules are available throughout the programme to support participants in preparedness for principalship (the “nuts and bolts” of principalship). This is enhanced through kaiārahi  support:

  • Finance
  • Governance and reporting
  • Employment/Staffing – recruitment and retention
  • Compliance/Regulations

Delegates are also offered career development support and engage in a year long leadership inquiry into change management with the guidance of their kaiārahi.


Course Costs

Cost: $2497 per person

*prices are GST exclusive

NB: Participants’ transportation costs to PLGs are self-funded and are not included in course fees.

Applications are currently open for cohorts starting in February 2025 (ECE, Primary, Intermediate, and Secondary).

Aspiring NLP is currently not a Ministry of Education funded project, although Growth Culture is a distinguished Ministry of Education Professional Learning and Development provider.

Payment and Refund Policy: Once your deposit has been received your position on Aspiring NLP has been secured. We are unable to refund either the deposit or remove the obligation to make the final payment. This is due to the costs incurred with venue bookings, Kaiarahi employment and the fact that Aspiring NLP will sell out meaning we have turned other delegates away. We are able to transfer your registration to another delegate who qualifies within your school before the 31 January 2025.


Contact

EMMA KINGSTON

Leadership Programmes Director
emma@gcla.co.nz
021 616 715

Bex Rose

Head of Impact
bex@gcla.co.nz
027 560 9700

MARSHALL DIGGS

Principal/Director


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