Yaldhurst School – Tōtara Tūkaha Canterbury

Principal / Tumuaki

As we farewell our principal of 17 years, an exciting opportunity has become available for a new experienced leader at Yaldhurst School Tōtara Tūkaha.

The school is a semi-rural, state-funded full primary for students in Y1–8. With a current student enrolment of 123 students for 2025. We pride ourselves on fostering a close-knit community where nearly all students are dropped off and picked up by family members. This unique aspect enables strong, ongoing relationships between staff, ākonga and whānau.

Our vision is "Yaldhurst School Tōtara Tūkaha is a happy place for HEROs to know-understand-do." Our core values are centred around developing the following concepts - healthy/takitahi hauora; enthusiastic/ngā ākonga hihiko; responsible/tangata whenua haepapa; and open-minded/nga kaihopara whakaro tuwhera. We currently prioritise explicit instruction and structured literacy as key educational approaches. 

Yaldhurst School Tōtara Tūkaha boasts state-of-the-art classrooms, large grounds, and a pool providing a vibrant learning environment. 

Key attributes:

• Proven leadership experience in a primary or intermediate school setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Commitment to inclusive education and cultural responsiveness.
• Knowledge and expertise with neurodiverse learners
• A strong commitment to up-to-date evidence-based curriculum development.
• Willingness to build on the positive work already done without losing current traction.
• Experience with structured literacy and explicit instruction preferred.
• Passion for fostering a positive and collaborative school culture.
• Must hold a teaching qualification eligible for a current New Zealand practising certificate. 

The position commences in term 1, 2025, with opportunities to connect with the current principal for a smooth transition.