Since 2016, the New Zealand Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey has reached over 7,000 primary school principals and school leaders. In partnership with the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa, the survey has produced high quality longitudinal evidence of the impact that school leadership roles have the on the occupational health, safety and wellbeing of New Zealands’ primary school leaders.
Participate TodayThe survey has consistently shown that many school leaders work long hours, face heavy workplace demands and are stressed by their workloads. School leaders also appear to be prone to suffer from burnout, sleeping troubles and stress as a result of their work.
* NZ General population refers to the averages scores for the working population of New Zealand.
69.9% worked upwards of 50 hours per week
45.5% worked upwards of 55 hours per week
19.9% worked upwards of 60 hours per week
The greatest source of stress for all principals and deputies/assistants is the sheer quantity of work,
closely followed by a lack of time to focus on teaching and learning.
Job demands are the physical, psychological, social or organizational aspects of a job that require continuous physical and/or psychological effort
Approximately one third of school leaders experienced threats of violence or violence in the last 12 months of their work.
98.7% of principals worked upwards of 40 hours per week – over half of all school leaders surveyed reported working more than 50 hours a week. 27% reported working upwards of 60 hours per week
The greatest source of stress for all principals and deputies/assistants is the sheer quantity of work, closely followed by a lack of time to focus on teaching and learning.
High Workplace demands and work family conflict
Burnout, Sleeping Troubles and Stress
Approximately one third of school leaders experienced threats of violence or violence in the last 12 months of their work
This research has highlighted the need to improve principals working lives through the provision of:
Evidence from the New Zealand Principal Survey has been used to guide education policy in New Zealand. Aggregated results from the research have been used to brief professional associations, the Ministry of Education, employer bodies such as the New Zealand School Trustees Association, and other principals and senior leaders’ groups.