Emma Tolmie is on leave from her role as Principal at Stanley Bay School
The principal of a primary school in one of the country’s most exclusive suburbs has been absent from work for five months after an extraordinary complaint letter, which the Herald understands was signed by the entire staff.
Stanley Bay School principal Emma Tolmie has not been at the Devonport school since the board of trustees received a letter from teachers raising issues about her management style, the Herald has learned.
Several parents have raised her absence with the board, but the community has yet to be told why she is away.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of backlash, said members of the community that he had spoken to were losing faith in the school and its board, citing a lack of transparency.
Through a New Zealand Educational Institute industrial officer, Tolmie said that she “will not be making any comment on internal school correspondence or matters that are the subject of an ongoing process. She does not accept any allegations that have been circulated”.
Presiding school board member Jonathan Duncan told the Herald he would not discuss individual staff matters publicly.
A letter from the school’s small staff was sent to the board in May this year, raising a range of concerns, the Herald understands.
The letter was understood to be supported by all 14 staff.
The letter was also understood to have used the phrase “breaking point” to describe their wellbeing, and raised concerns about the way Tolmie interacted with some teachers, students and parents.
Minutes from the school board’s June meeting showed Helen Pelham was appointed as acting principal on July 23, with support from John Robertson from the Ministry of Education.
In August, the school board’s minutes said they had received at least two emails from parents concerned about the lack of communication about leadership at the school.
The minutes also stipulated the need for a non-disclosure agreement to be in place before the meeting.
Tolmie was appointed principal of the school in 2023. She was previously deputy principal and special-education needs coordinator at Richmond Rd School in Grey Lynn and had held roles at Murrays Bay Intermediate and Mairangi Bay School.
According to the school’s 2024 Education Review Office (ERO) report, there are 223 children on the roll.
The absence of information about Tolmie’s absence has sparked speculation across the community. One parent the Herald spoke to was frustrated that the school year is about to end without knowing why the principal has been absent for half of it.
Governance documents for Stanley Bay School say that the principal was an employee of the board of trustees and obligated to follow its policies.
Ministry of Education leader for the north Isabel Evans told the Herald that the school board were responsible for all the employment decisions and confirmed the ministry did not fund the appointments.
A spokesperson from the New Zealand School Board Association (NZSBA) gave insight into how staff members could raise concerns or complaints about a principal.
They said staff would need to pen a letter to the presiding member of the board.
“As the principal’s employer, the board must ensure the matter is handled in a way that aligns with board policies, the principal’s employment agreement and the usual requirements of natural justice.
“After considering the concerns, the board decides whether the issue can be resolved informally or, in the case of serious allegations, if a formal employment process is required, usually after seeking NZSBA employment advice or third-party legal advice.
“The principal must be fully informed of the nature of the concerns and given a meaningful opportunity to respond.”
They said several outcomes were possible, ranging from no further action, a performance improvement process, to formal disciplinary steps. There are also situations where both parties choose to end the employment relationship by mutual agreement.
“Where the board proceeds down a disciplinary path, and the evidence supports it, dismissal sits at the most serious end of the range of options.
“That can only occur at the end of a robust process in which the principal has had a full and fair chance to respond.”