Frequently asked questions
We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions which may be helpful to you in applying for Area School Principals' Sabbatical.
Select a category below to be taken to questions and answers relating to that topic.
Approved professional learning activities
Sabbatical proposal requirements
Board of trustees/employer support
General
How was the sabbatical established?
The Area School Principals’ Sabbatical was negotiated as one of the professional learning provisions for principals as part of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement (ASPCA).
What is this award?
Sabbaticals are available to area school principals through the provisions of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement (ASPCA).
The school receives relief funding in accordance with the ASPCA while the principal is on sabbatical.
What does the sabbatical provide?
The Area School Principals’ Sabbatical provides either ten, five or three weeks’ paid leave at the principal’s normal salary in any term of 2023 following a successful application.
A ten-week sabbatical may be taken, with the board of trustees/employer’s approval, in one or two blocks.
The blocks must be whole weeks in duration, with the minimum block being three weeks. Three-week and five-week sabbaticals cannot be split except by a term break, and must be taken as whole weeks.
The leave counts as service for most purposes.
Any salary increases due during the sabbatical still apply, according to the provisions of the ASPCA.
You can also apply for a reimbursement of costs clearly associated with your sabbatical to a maximum of $5,000.
What is the aim of the Area School Principals’ Sabbatical?
The aim of the sabbatical is to provide a sustained period of time in a principal’s career to engage in a balance of professional learning activities, reflection and rejuvenation.
The scheme is intended to:
Directly:
- improve knowledge, skills, and practice through engagement in professional learning
- enhance principal enthusiasm for leadership
- provide opportunities to overcome any professional isolation experienced by Area School Principals.
Indirectly:
- improve overall retention rates of experienced and effective area school principals
- enhance the learning experiences of students
- enhance professional learning cultures in the schooling sector.
How many Area School Principals’ Sabbaticals are available each year?
Each year there are ten paid sabbaticals, each of one term based on 10 school weeks’ duration, available to principals in state or state-integrated area schools.
Please note that in 2021 at least half of the resource will be for Area Principals’ Te Rau Titoki leave. These will be awarded first.
What are the expectations if awarded a sabbatical if awarded a sabbatical?
If awarded a sabbatical, you must:
- Notify TeachNZ if you are accepting or declining the sabbatical.
- Notify TeachNZ of any changes to information included on the application form, (e.g. your employment status, contact details, your proposal, or if you take up a new position).
- Undertake professional learning activities as stated in your proposal.
- Produce a report from your professional learning, which can be placed online as a resource for other principals, within three months of completing your sabbatical.
If you are successful and then decline the offer of a sabbatical, you can re-apply with no prejudice in a subsequent year.
A sabbatical cannot be postponed to the next year.
However, under exceptional circumstances the principal and board of trustees/employer may agree to postpone the leave to the first or second term of the following year, subject to notifying TeachNZ.
When will I find out the outcome of my application?
You will be notified by Wednesday 18 May 2022.
What does an Area School principals’ Sabbatical provide?
An Area School Principals’ Sabbatical provides you with paid leave for ten, five or three weeks. TeachNZ (Ministry of Education) covers the relief costs to replace you while you are on sabbatical.
You can also apply for a reimbursement of costs clearly associated with your sabbatical to a maximum of $5,000.
How long is a sabbatical?
You can apply for a sabbatical for either ten, five or three weeks.
If you are applying for ten weeks’ leave and choose to take your sabbatical in a term that is nine weeks in duration, you can choose to take the tenth week of sabbatical either in the last week of the term before or the first week of the term after, in agreement with your school.
Can I take my sabbatical in two blocks?
Yes, your ten-week sabbatical can be taken in one or two blocks, with the board of trustees/employer’ approval. The blocks must be whole weeks in duration with the minimum block being three weeks. The five and three-week sabbaticals cannot be split except by term breaks.
When can I take my sabbatical?
You can choose which term to take your sabbatical as long as your board of trustees/employer is in agreement. Please make sure you notify TeachNZ of the dates you plan to take your sabbatical.
What do I need to do to confirm dates for my sabbatical? Can my sabbatical dates change?
Please indicate on page 6 of the application form the dates you are planning to take your sabbatical. If you are successful you will be asked to confirm the dates.
These must be agreed to with your school. Please notify TeachNZ if these dates change.
What will happen if I have applied for the wrong award?
Your application will only be assessed for the award you have applied for. It’s important that you check the application information to ensure you are applying for the correct award.
Can I work while on sabbatical?
No, you must not be in paid work while on sabbatical.
The purpose of the Area School Principals’ Sabbatical is to provide a sustained period of time in a principal’s career to engage in a balance of professional learning activities, reflection and rejuvenation. You cannot work at your school, or another school while on sabbatical.
Do I need to return to the same school after completing my sabbatical?
There is an expectation that you will return either to your previous role or a role within the education workforce.
Can I submit more than one application for the sabbatical?
No, you can only submit one application for each sabbatical you apply for.
What if I am offered a position at a different school?
If it is not as an Area School principal position you will no longer be eligible for the sabbatical leave.
If you are offered an area principal position at a different school you will need approval from the new school’s board of trustees/employer. You will need to provide TeachNZ with written confirmation of support from the board of trustees/employer, so we can advise the correct school on how to charge teacher relief costs
Can I postpone my sabbatical until the next year?
Where you and the board of trustees/employer agree, you may postpone your sabbatical under exceptional circumstances to either term 1 or 2 of the following year. Please advise TeachNZ of this with a short explanation of the reason for this change.
Can I withdraw from an Area School Principals’ Sabbatical?
If you choose to withdraw, you can apply again in the future with no prejudice. You would need to let us know in writing that you would like to withdraw from the sabbatical. We can accept this by email to teacher.studyawards@education.govt.nz.
Eligibility
What is the eligibility criteria?
To be eligible to apply for an Area School Principals’ Sabbatical, you must:
- be employed as an area school principal in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school
- be employed under the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement or applicable Individual Employment Agreement (IEA)
- have completed at least five years’ service as a principal in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school
- have the support of your school’s board of trustees/employer, including any agreed costs.
I am on a fixed-term contract. Can I apply for a 2023 Area School Principals’ Sabbatical?
Yes, but you will need to be employed by a school during the sabbatical as TeachNZ provides relief funding to your school while you are on sabbatical.
Can I apply if I’m not a member of a union?
Yes, the sabbaticals are open to all New Zealand area principals in state or state-integrated schools who meet the eligibility criteria.
The eligibility criteria state that I need to have at least five years’ service as a principal in
New Zealand state or state-integrated schools.
I am currently in my fifth year as a principal. Can I apply?
Yes, if your length of service as a principal as at December 2022 will be five years.
Approved professional learning activities
Where can I find information on the professional learning activities completed by previous sabbatical recipients?
Reports by successful applicants from previous years can be found on the Educational Leaders website www.educationalleaders.govt.nz.
What are approved professional learning activities?
The following are approved professional learning activities:
- relevant study or research
- visiting schools
- visiting other institutions
- attending a course
- attending a conference.
What professional learning activities are not approved for a sabbatical?
- Activity for the financial or commercial gain of the principal or school.
- Paid work.
- Overseas trips with the purpose of ‘marketing’ the school to potential foreign fee-paying students.
- Your regular day-to-day work.
Can I change my sabbatical project after submitting an application?
Yes, but not substantially as this will need to be approved by TeachNZ. Please notify TeachNZ of this change in writing and provide details of your new sabbatical project and a short explanation of the reason for this change.
Sabbatical proposal requirements
How should I present my proposal?
Please see section 6 of the application form and complete your sabbatical proposal in the requested format. This makes it easier for the selection panel to assess applications consistently.
Can I put in a joint sabbatical proposal with another principal?
No you cannot submit a joint application for a sabbatical. Applications are assessed individually.
Can I submit more than one sabbatical proposal with my application?
You can only submit one sabbatical proposal with your application.
Board of trustees/employer support
What can I provide as evidence that my board of trustees/employer supports my application?
The application form asks for a signature from the board of trustees chairperson/employer as support for your application.
Alternatively we can also accept one of the following as board of trustees/employer support:
- A copy of relevant board of trustees minutes confirming support for your application.
- A signed letter of support from the board chairperson/employer.
- An email sent directly from the board chairperson/employer to TeachNZ.
Board of trustees/employer support, in one of the formats outlined above, must be submitted by Friday 10 June 2022.
Please note that support from the board of trustees/ employer is an eligibility factor.
Who has the authority to support my application on behalf of the board of trustees’ chairperson?
The deputy chairperson or another trustee who has delegated authority in the absence of the board chairperson or their deputy. Please make sure this is clear on the application form.
Who can support my application if my school has a limited statutory manager employed?
If the limited statutory manager is acting in place of the board of trustees for employment matters, ask the limited statutory manager to confirm support for your application by signing your application form, otherwise the board chairperson should sign. Please ensure it’s clear that the signature is that of the limited statutory manager.
Who can sign my application form if the board of trustees has been disestablished?
Please ask the commissioner acting in place of the board of trustees to confirm support for your application by signing your application form. Please ensure it’s clear the signature is that of the commissioner.
What if I can’t provide confirmation of board of trustees/employer support when I submit my application?
If you have not yet received support from the board of trustees/employer you may still apply, but please send this in as soon as possible. Please provide an explanation on the application form as to why the support of the board of trustees/employer is not included with your application.
Please note that support from the board of trustees/employer is an eligibility factor, and for this reason it must be submitted by Friday 10 June 2022.
This must be sent and postmarked with a reference to your application, otherwise it cannot be considered with your application.
Sending my application
Can I apply online?
Yes, just complete and submit your application form online at www.teachnz.govt.nz/studyawards on or before Wednesday 18 May 2022.
Can I email you my application?
No, we can only accept applications that are submitted online or sent in by post or courier. For your application to be considered, it must be sent and postmarked on or before Wednesday 18 May 2022.
Can I post a digital copy (on a disc or uSB stick) of my application?
No, please submit a printed, unbound document on A4 paper.
What happens if my application is late?
Late applications will not be considered. For your application to be considered, it must be sent and postmarked on or before Wednesday 18 May 2022.
How will I know you have received my application?
You will receive an email to confirm that your application has arrived. Please contact us if you have not heard from us by Wednesday 18 May 2022.
What happens if my application is incomplete?
It’s important to ensure you’ve submitted all the required information. If your application is incomplete, or is not in the correct format, the selection panel may not be able to assess it fully.
Can I send in additional information after submitting my application?
You may submit additional information for your application by Friday 10 June 2022, otherwise this cannot be considered with your application.
What will happen if my application is postmarked after Wednesday 18 May 2022?
Your application will not be considered.