Principals struggle with pressure

Morale falls at primary schools as heads face longer hours and more stress on the job

Morale is dropping at New Zealand primary schools with a rising number of principals reporting longer work hours and high levels of stress, a report says.

A New Zealand Council for Educational Research report found less than a third of primary school principals felt they had a satisfactory work-life balance.

And just one in five felt they had enough time for educational leadership.

The report's author, Dr Cathy Wylie, said many principals went into the job because of the satisfaction they got from working with students.

"But the price of that is an intense workload and one in which the administrative side of things can dominate the job to the detriment of the educational leadership."

Dr Wylie's findings revealed:

* Less than a quarter of all New Zealand primary school principals described morale at their schools as "very good" in 2007 - in 2003 the figure was more than a third or 34 per cent.

* Stress levels were "high or very high" for 42 per cent of principals.

* More than a third of all primary school principals work between 56 to 60 hours a week and only one in five felt they had enough time for educational leadership.

* At the more extreme end, 5 per cent worked between 71 and 80 hours a week.

But secondary school principals reported working even longer hours, with nearly a quarter working between 61 to 65 hours a week while nearly a third work up to 70 hours.

However, despite the long hours there was a slight increase in morale for secondary school principals, who recorded a reduction in working hours since 2003.

Auckland Primary Principals Association president Marilyn Gwilliam took a positive view of the report, saying principals loved their work.

"Primary school principals, like their secondary school counterparts, are hugely committed but there is an acknowledgment there is a lot of work to be done."

She said despite the decrease in morale, the industry had not seen a mass exodus of principals leaving the profession and nor was it likely to.

"Principals need to find time to take care of their own personal health and well-being so they can do this very important job for our community," said Ms Gwilliam.

"There are things we have to do and get on and do them and sometimes it takes longer than others, much like any other job, but it is a very rewarding and privileged position."

TOUGH AT THE TOP

* One in five primary principals and twice as many secondary principals work 66 or more hours per week.
* Teachers most wanted a reduction in class size, less administration, better pay and more time to work with individual students.
* Less than one-third of primary school principals felt they had a satisfactory work-life balance.
* Only one in five felt they had enough time for educational leadership.

Source: NZ Council for Educational Research