Frequently asked questions
We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions which may be helpful to you in applying for Area School Teachers' Sabbatical.
Select a category below to be taken to questions and answers relating to that topic.
Completing your application form
Approved professional learning activities
Sabbatical proposal requirements
Principal and board of trustees/employer support
General
How was the study award come established?
The Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical was negotiated as one of the professional learning provisions for teachers as part of the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement (ASTCA).
What is this award?
Sabbaticals are available to area school teachers through the provisions of the Area School Teachers’
Collective Agreement (ASTCA).
The school receives relief funding in accordance with the ASTCA while the teacher is on sabbatical.
What is the purpose of the Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical?
The purpose of the Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical is to:
Directly:
- improve knowledge, skills, and practice through engagement in professional learning
- enhance teachers’ enthusiasm for teaching
- provide opportunities to overcome any professional isolation experienced by Area School Teachers.
Indirectly:
- improve overall retention rates of experienced and effective area school teachers
- enhance the learning experiences of students
- enhance professional learning cultures in the schooling sector.
When will I find out the outcome of my application?
You will be notified by Friday 10 June 2022.
How many Area School Teachers’ Sabbaticals are available each year?
There are 12 Area School Teachers’ Sabbaticals available each year.
Are all the awards allocated each year?
Yes, as there are only 12 Area School Teachers’ Sabbaticals available the panel look to fully award all of them.
Please note that key factors in the ranking of teachers are the length of service in area schools and length of unbroken service.
What does an Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical provide?
An Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical provides you with paid leave from school for 10 school weeks.
TeachNZ (Ministry of Education) covers the relief costs to replace you while you are on leave, including any holiday pay due to a relief teacher.
Please note that there is no contribution to any additional expenses.
The Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical provides ten school weeks’ paid leave at the teachers’ normal salary in any term of 2023 following a successful application.
‘Normal salary’ includes all permanent salary units and allowances.
Where fixed-term salary units and allowances are held, the teacher should clarify with their principal whether these will continue to be paid.
The leave counts as service for most purposes.
Any salary increases or increments due during the sabbatical still apply, according to the provisions of the ASTCA.
This sabbatical does not include any additional expenses associated with the leave.
How is my application assessed?
A selection panel, made up of representatives from the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA), New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and the Post
Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) will assess your application.
There are two parts to this:
Part one: Does the application meet the following requirements?
- The professional learning proposed is within one or more approved fields (see page 2 of the application guide for a list of approved professional learning activities).
- The purpose and programme of work within the allocated timeframe is clearly described.
- The benefits of the project for your students, yourself and your area school are explained.
- There is a clear plan to report on your professional learning.
Part two: For the final selection the selection panel will give consideration to:
- A teacher’s total length of service in area schools.
- If necessary, the length of unbroken teaching service prior to making this application.
- Achieving a balance of proposals covering both primary curriculum and secondary curriculum areas.
Note: The length of your service in area schools and the length of unbroken service (years of continuous service) prior to making an application are key factors in ranking applications. To help the selection panel accurately rank applications please provide a detailed employment history, and note any breaks.
It is recommended you provide an explanation for any breaks in service. Periods of relief teaching and part-time count as service but will be prorated.
The selection panel’s role is to ensure that the selection process is open, fair, consistent and impartial, and that it provides for equal opportunity and non-discrimination.
How long is a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is for 10 school weeks only.
If you choose to take your sabbatical in a term that is nine weeks in duration, you can choose to take the tenth week of sabbatical leave either in the last week of the term before or the first week of the term after, in agreement with your school.
When can I take my sabbatical?
You can choose which term to take your sabbatical as long your school 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 the application form the dates that you are planning on taking the sabbatical. If you are successful you will be asked to confirm the dates. If you do wish to change these 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 you check the application information to ensure that you are applying for the correct award.
Can I work while on sabbatical?
No, the purpose of the Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical is to provide a sustained period of time in a teacher’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.
Can I apply for more than one award?
Yes, but you can only accept one award. If you are successful in more than one application, you will be asked to choose which award you would like to accept.
Please note you must send in a separate application for each award you apply for.
Can I submit more than one application for the sabbatical?
No, you can only submit one application for each sabbatical you apply for.
Do I need to return to the same school after completing my sabbatical?
There is an expectation that you will return to either your previous role or a similar one.
What if I am offered a position at a different area school?
If you are offered a position at a different school you will need approval from the new school’s board of trustees/employer and principal. You would need to provide TeachNZ with written confirmation of support from that principal and board of trustees/employer, so we can advise the correct school on how to charge teacher relief costs to TeachNZ (Ministry of Education).
Can I postpone my sabbatical until the next year?
You may request to postpone your sabbatical under exceptional circumstances to either Term 1 or 2 of the following year. You must have your principals and board of trustees/employer’s support to do this and provide written confirmation of this to TeachNZ with a short explanation of the reason for this change.
Can I withdraw from an Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical?
If you choose to withdraw from the sabbatical, 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.
What are the expectations 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, your contact details, your proposal, or if you take up a new position).
- Undertake the 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 teachers within three months of completing your sabbatical. It is strongly recommended that a colleague reviews your report before it is submitted for online publication.
A sabbatical cannot be postponed to the next year.
However, under exceptional personal circumstances, or where the principal can demonstrate the school is unable to obtain a reliever during the year for which the sabbatical is awarded, the principal and board of trustees/employer may postpone the sabbatical to the first or second term of the following year, subject to notification and agreement from TeachNZ.
If you are awarded a sabbatical and decline the offer you can re-apply without prejudice in a subsequent year.
Eligibility
If I am a primary or secondary-trained teacher working in an area school, can I apply for a 2023 Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical?
The sabbatical you are eligible to apply for depends on which collective agreement you are employed under.
You can apply for an Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical if you are covered by the terms and conditions of the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement and meet all eligibility criteria.
If you are covered by the terms and conditions of the Primary or Secondary Teacher Collective Agreements, you may be eligible to apply for a Primary or Secondary Teachers’ Sabbatical. Please visit www.TeachNZ.govt.nz/studyawards to find out more.
I am a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) who works in primary and/or secondary schools, but my lead school is an area school. Can I apply for this sabbatical?
The sabbatical you are eligible to apply for depends on which collective agreement you are employed under.
You can apply for an Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical f you are covered by the terms and conditions of the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement and meet all eligibility criteria.
Although you are working in primary and/or secondary schools, as your lead school is an area school you may be employed under the terms and conditions of the Area School Teachers’ Collective
Agreement. If you are covered by the terms and conditions of the Primary or Secondary Teacher
Collective Agreements, you may be eligible to apply for a Primary or Secondary Teachers’ Sabbatical.
Please visit www.TeachNZ.govt.nz/studyawards to find out more.
I am a part-time teacher; can I apply for a 2023 Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical?
No, to be eligible to apply you must be a full-time teacher.
I am on a fixed-term contract; can I apply for a 2023 Area School Teachers’ Sabbatical?
Yes, if you are employed full-time, but you will need to be employed by a school during the sabbatical, as TeachNZ (Ministry of Education) provides relief funding to your school you while you are on sabbatical.
Can I apply if I am a long-term reliever?
Yes, if you are employed full time, but you will need to be employed by a school during the sabbatical, as TeachNZ (Ministry of Education) provides relief funding to your school while you are on sabbatical.
The eligibility criteria state that I need to have at least 10 years’ continuous service in New Zealand state or state-integrated schools. I am currently in my tenth year of teaching. Can I apply?
Yes, if your length of continuous service as at December 2022 will be 10 years.
My registration is currently subject to confirmation. Can I apply?
Yes, but only if you will receive full registration status by December 2022.
Please notify TeachNZ if your registration status changes during the application or selection process.
Can I apply if I’m not a member of a teachers’ union?
Yes, the sabbaticals are open to all teachers in New Zealand state or state-integrated area schools who meet the eligibility criteria.
Completing your application form
Why do I need to provide a detailed employment history?
The length of your service in area schools and the length of unbroken service prior to making an application are key factors in ranking applications. To help the selection panel accurately rank applications please provide a detailed employment history, and note any breaks. You should provide an explanation for any breaks in service.
Periods of relief teaching and part-time teaching count as service but will be prorated. For part-time work provide the proportion of an FTTE (hours paid per week divided by 25), and for any periods of relief teaching estimate the number of days worked.
What is considered a break in service?
A break in service is any break or leave you have had from, teaching 10 weeks or longer. Please see page 4 of the application form for information on what counts as service and what breaks service.
I took maternity leave from 2014 to 2019 does this break my service?
Yes, for the purposes of this award your service is broken.
How do I work out my years of continuous service?
Count back from the end of 2021 until there is a point that breaks service. See page 4 of the application form for information on what is considered a break in service.
Approved professional learning activities
Where can I find information on the professional learning activities completed by previous sabbatical recipients?
Reports by successful teachers from previous years can be found on the TeachNZ website www.TeachNZ.govt.nz/studyawards.
Can I change my sabbatical project after submitting an application?
Yes, but not substantially. Please notify TeachNZ of proposed changes in writing, and provide details of this and an explanation of the reason for this change as this will need to be approved.
What are approved professional learnings?
The following are approved professional learning activities:
- Implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum and/or Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
- Assessment and its impact on student outcomes.
- Leadership of teaching and learning.
- The relationship between pedagogy and students’ learning.
- Pedagogical knowledge or educational theory.
- Teaching and learning in other settings outside your school.
- The learning needs of diverse students.
- Improving participation and achievement by Māori or Pasifika students.
- Student development, behaviour or support.
- Specific aspects of student learning.
- Extending specific subject or technological knowledge.
- Adult learning and mentoring.
Sabbatical proposal requirements
How should I present my proposal?
Please see section 7 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 teacher?
You can put in a joint application for a sabbatical, but each application will be assessed separately by the selection panel, so your applications may be ranked differently.
Can I submit more than one proposal?
You can only submit one sabbatical proposal with your application.
Principal and board of trustees/employer support
What can I provide as evidence that my principal supports my application?
The application form asks for a signature from your principal as support for your application.
Alternatively we can also accept one of the following as principal support:
- A signed letter of support from your school principal.
- An email sent directly from your school principal to TeachNZ.
Principal support, in one of the formats outlined above, must be submitted by Friday 10 June 2022.
Who can support my application if my principal is away?
The acting principal is the only person who can support your application on behalf of your principal.
Please make sure it is clear that the signature is from the person acting in the role of the principal.
Who can support my application if I am acting principal?
The principal should support your application. If your principal is unable to provide support in one of the approved formats please provide an explanation in the box provided.
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 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.
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 chairperson or their deputy. Please make sure this is clear on the application form.
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 its clear the signature is that of the commissioner.
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.
What if I can’t provide confirmation of principal and board of trustees/employer support when I submit my application?
If you have not yet received support from the principal and/or board of trustees/employer you may still apply, but please send this in by Friday 10 June 2022. Please provide an explanation on the application form as to why the support of the principal and/or board of trustees/ employer is not included with your application.
I am a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) and work in a number of schools. Which principal and board of trustees/employer should I ask to support my application?
RTLBs are employed by the cluster lead school’s principal and board of trustees. The schools where
RTLBs are located, but not employed, are called host (or satellite) schools.
Please ask the principal and board of trustees/employer from your lead school to support your application.
Sending your 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.
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 that 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 will happen if my application is postmarked after Friday Wednesday 18 May 2022?
Your application will not be considered.
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 up to Friday 10 June 2022 otherwise this cannot be considered with your application.
Can I submit a digital copy (on a disc or USB stick) of my application?
No, please provide your application as a printed, unbound A4 document.
Reporting on your sabbatical
Reporting on your sabbatical professional learning activities
Teachers awarded a sabbatical are required to provide a written report that other teachers can access online.
It is strongly recommended that the report is reviewed, preferably by a colleague, before you submit it for online publication.
Failure to submit a report within the timeframe will preclude you from being considered for future awards.
What do I need to include in my sabbatical report?
Please see below for information that is required in your sabbatical report.
A copy of the report or resource must be submitted to TeachNZ within three months of completing your sabbatical. It is preferable that the report is also added to a website and the link is submitted to TeachNZ.
It is strongly recommended that a colleague reviews your report before it is submitted for online publication. If you provide a link this will be listed on the TeachNZ website for other teachers and principals to view.
The Educational Leaders website, www.educationalleaders.govt.nz, also has information that can guide you in writing your sabbatical report.
How do I report on my sabbatical professional learning activity?
It is recommended that reports are structured in the following way:
- Title: showing the focus of the sabbatical
- Author, school, period of time the sabbatical covers
- Acknowledgements
- Executive summary
- Purpose
- Background and rationale
- Methodology
- Findings
- Implications
- Benefits
- Conclusions
- References
Alternatively the resource may be a practical resource, for example:
- annotated photo study
- student learning resource
- teaching resource based on recent innovations in a curriculum area
- teaching resource based on practical applications of the curriculum.
If the resource is a practical resource it will include a section or cover page clearly outlining the following:
a) Purpose (as in the proposal)
b) Activities undertaken
c) Benefits to individual and to school
When is the report due?
A copy of the report or resource must be submitted electronically to teacher.studyawards@education.govt.nz within three months of completion of the sabbatical. It is preferable that the report is also added to a website and the link is submitted to TeachNZ. A link to the project will be listed on the TeachNZ website for other principals and teachers to view.
What if a report or resource is not received within the requested timeframe?
An email reminder will be sent to the recipient and the website will be amended to advise that the report has not yet been received.
Reports of successful teachers from previous years can be found on the TeachNZ website: www.TeachNZ.govt.nz.