Background Information for Principal Candidates

Academic Colleges Group

ACG Tauranga is a member of ACG, the Academic Colleges Group. Programmes ACG is a leading New Zealand owned and operated provider of independent educational services. ACG Preschools, Schools,  Preschool/Kindergarten, primary, middle and senior school Colleges and tertiary level providers are all co-educational and education share many common values and philosophies.  English language courses  University Foundation Studies for The University of Auckland Five schools in New Zealand and AUT University  Tertiary level programmes in design, film, graphics and related  ACG Parnell College / Parnell Primary School fields  ACG Senior College  ACG Strathallan Preschool, School and College  ACG Sunderland  ACG Tauranga

Four tertiary level providers in New Zealand

 ACG New Zealand International College  ACG English School  ACG Norton College  ACG Yoobee School of Design

Two international schools in Indonesia and Vietnam

 ACG International School - Jakarta  Australian International School - Vietnam

 Over 5,000 students  Over 750 employees

ACG Objectives  English language support available at all schools  A clear focus on academic study ACG’s two main goals are to provide:  Leading IT systems including myACG – a custom-designed online education management and parent information system  Excellent academic outcomes from quality teaching  Unique student leadership activities  A superior quality of service As part of ACG, the ACG Tauranga Principal will benefit from being ACG Schools are committed to: a member of the ACG Principal’s Council and many opportunities for professional engagement, sharing of knowledge and experience  Providing a dynamic learning environment that helps students and collegiality with other ACG Principals and the ACG Head Office enjoy their studies and inspires them to be lifelong learners specialists.  Personalising the learning experience by tailoring programmes to meet each student’s needs and which reflect their ability and The Principal’s Council is chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and prior learning meets formally four times a year. The members of the Council are:  Actively encouraging and rewarding academic excellence and achievement  Ian King – Chief Executive Officer  Offering innovative and creative programmes designed to  Clarence van der Wel – Chief Operating Officer encourage students to think both creatively and critically  Larne Edmeades – Principal, ACG Parnell College  Employing highly-qualified, experienced, caring and motivated  Mark Haines – Principal, ACG NZ International Programmes educators who are dedicated to creating schools that focus on  Robin Kirkham – Executive Principal, ACG Strathallan the learning needs of their students  Kathy Parker – Principal, ACG Senior College  Nathan Villars – Principal , ACG Sunderland ACG Points of Difference ACG Schools are supported by the resources and expertise of the ACG schools offer their students and families several unique and ACG Head Office, based in Auckland, which includes the specialist valuable points of difference compared to New Zealand state functions of Finance, Marketing, Information Technology, Human schools and other independent schools. Resources, Property and International Student Services.

 Internationally recognised qualifications From day one, the Principal and staff will greatly benefit from access  A personalised learning experience to ACG’s comprehensive online myACG teaching resources and  Effective 1:1 assistance and coaching through a personal tutor support, including detailed curriculum resources and established system educational and management systems. Principals of ACG schools  Extension tutoring enjoy minimal board reporting and meeting requirements and a low  Longer class periods level of bureaucracy and compliance activities. The size, structure  Thinking Skills and extension activities

and geographical spread of ACG provides Principals and staff with wide opportunities for career path development.

ACG Tauranga

ACG is pleased to confirm its plans for a significant new school in Tauranga.

Set on 14.8ha of land on the corner of Keenan Road and Pyes Pa Road (SH 36), Tauranga, the school promises to be an outstanding addition to the ACG Group of schools - and well placed to grow to be a leading independent, secular, co-educational school in New Zealand.

With resource consent now granted, and building works underway, the school is quickly advancing toward opening in February 2015 with classes for Years 1 to 9. In time, it is planned that the school will grow to around 700 students from Preschool to Year 13. We are The Principal therefore seeking to appoint a Founding Principal to lead the growth of the school and to foster a strong school community. The Principal will report to the ACG Chief Operating Officer or similar and will be responsible for the educational leadership and overall ACG Tauranga will bring the key points of difference of ACG schools management of the campus. to the Bay of Plenty region and, in addition, will provide students and families with a number of unique propositions: The main objectives of the Principal will be:

 One-on-one academic coaching and extension  To direct, develop and expand all activities related to the  Educational experiences beyond and supplementary to the effective operation of ACG Tauranga classroom  To set and achieve superior standards in terms of academic  Along with an academic focus, the school will be for students outcomes, staff management and student services who want to learn – not just ‘academic’ students  To achieve annual financial goals and planning

In particular, the Principal will be responsible for:

 Providing visionary leadership Along with the opportunity to contribute significantly to a growing  The provision of high quality learning programmes for students purpose-built campus focused on educational excellence, attractive  Ensuring an assessment programme is in place to monitor remuneration commensurate with the high expectations of this student performance challenging position will be offered.  Ensuring an appropriate appraisal and development programme is in place to monitor staff performance The position will commence in late 2014 or early 2015.  Working within budget and the delivery of financial targets  The learning environment, including the quality of the physical environment and the conditions for orderly and effective teaching  Maintaining close ties with all elements of the broader school community  Representing and promoting ACG generally in a way that enhances the reputation of the Group  The appointment and direction of high quality staff  The enrolment, welfare and discipline of students  Effective provision of all support services in order to deliver an outstanding learning environment including IT, Property and HR management

The successful candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

 Proven leadership and management ability, including sound financial and commercial acumen Vision  A passion for dynamic and innovative education that inspires students to be lifelong learners "Excellent teaching is at the heart of high quality learning. Students  A focus on superior quality of service should be motivated by teachers who love their subject, are highly skilled  Excellent communication skills and the ability to establish in communicating their knowledge, enjoy what they are doing, and gain positive relationships with students, staff, parents and the wider immense pleasure from working with young people. Schools should have community a sense of purposeful industry along with the excitement that emanates  A high level of commitment to ICT in administration and from new experiences. They should be places where individuals feel teaching valued and welcomed, and where each student feels appreciated and  Appropriate degree level qualification(s) accepted.

At school, all students should be encouraged and challenged to do their Students perform their best when they are nurtured, encouraged very best. and supported and ACG schools do all they can to ensure that each student not only enjoys academic success, but also enjoys the Above all, schools should be places where learning is central to journey to success. everyone".

Sir John Graham and Dawn Jones, Co-founders, ACG

At ACG Tauranga, learning and enjoyment will go hand in hand, with the all-round development of each student being our focus. It will be a place where the individual is valued and appreciated.

We will aim to educate our students to be creative problem solvers who are willing to take considered risks; lifelong learners with a love of learning; young people who are both independent and interdependent in their relations with others; useful contributors and strong leaders in the global community of the 21st century.

We will ensure that each student’s needs are carefully considered and that all students are encouraged and supported to achieve to their highest level. A focus on learning with opportunities to be involved and achieve outside of the classroom, will ensure that there are many opportunities to excel both in academic studies and in a range of other activities. Values Outstanding teachers and an emphasis on literacy and numeracy will be fundamental. The ACG corporate values will guide the development of the ACG Tauranga values. ACG’s schools develop pastoral systems to provide active support based on strong ties between home and school. We place a high Our student-focused approach to education shapes and defines value on ensuring a safe and secure environment in which each the core values of ACG. individual is accepted and supported.

ACG Values are: 2. A student focus

 Scholarship  Assessment of each individual's capabilities forms the basis  Acceptance of diversity of skills taught and learning programmes devised.  Secure and imaginative students  ACG’s teaching methods ensures individual attention and  Developing analytical and problem solving skills assists each student to set learning goals and evaluate  Personalisation / good tutor and support systems achievement.  Engendering a regard for intellectual achievement  Student focused learning and teaching 3. Quality and Excellence  Attendance and work done  Communication with students and parents about progress  ACG provides a dynamic learning environment that  Quality teaching and high expectations encourages students to enjoy their learning and actively  Professional standards of work and relationships assists them to reach their potential.  Taking responsibility for outcomes  Scholarship is valued and high expectations are set.  Appraisal and self-evaluation  Professional standards of work and relationships are  Inspiring lifelong learning promoted through appraisal and self-evaluation.  Learning online  Committed, trained and caring teachers support young people to be secure and inspire them to explore imaginative To achieve this: approaches.

1. Learning is the central activity Curriculum  ACG supports and encourages thinking and knowledge based on international curricula and assessment. Our ACG Tauranga will offer the Cambridge International Curriculum in students gain international qualifications that are accepted Years 1 - 13. At the end of the primary years students will sit the and recognised by respected universities around the world. Cambridge International Achievement Test while senior students  ACG supports and encourages knowledge and the (Years 11 - 13) will sit the internationally recognised Cambridge development of analytical and problem solving skills based International Examinations. on international curricula and assessment. Our students gain international qualifications that are accepted and recognized ACG students achieve outstanding results in their examinations. In by respected universities around the world 2013, all ACG schools in Auckland achieved a pass rate of 100% in  ACG engenders a regard for intellectual achievement and A Levels and students achieved 26 Cambridge Awards. lifelong learning, including online learning skills.

Location and Facilities

The school will be located at 438 Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga, previously a kiwifruit orchard. Entry will be provided from Keenan Road and egress to Pyes Pa Road.

Cambridge Awards 2010 – 2012, ACG Schools compared to New Zealand Schools

Sports and Activities

Students will be encouraged to participate in sporting and other activities and will take advantage of specialist facilities including sports fields, hard courts, a gymnasium and a sports pavilion. A Stretching over 14.8 hectares, the Campus will provide a spacious wide range of team and individual sports will feature. environment for buildings and playing fields.

The development of the school is to be staged. Future development of the school may or may not include a boarding facility, which will be dependent on demand. The future boarding Stage One includes the architecturally designed Primary School facility is anticipated to be located west of the Secondary School with a capacity of 300 students, a gymnasium, three sports fields, a block and would provide the opportunity for up to approximately 120 play area, car parking and a utility building. Stage One is scheduled students to board on site. Outside school term times the boarding to be completed for opening in Term 1, 2015. An ECE facility will facility may be used for residential courses, conferences and other also be constructed. such events.

Application Process

Interested applicants should apply online by visiting http://hr.acgedu.com. A copy of the full Position Description is available on the site.

Applications will close on 5 May 2014.

Initial interviews are expected to be held by the end of May, with an appointment confirmed during June.

The position will commence in late 2014 or early 2015. Following stages will depend on demand and may include an administration block, a secondary school block, hard courts, a sports For further information about ACG we encourage you to visit pavilion / equipment storage, a horticultural building, a boarding www.acgedu.com. block and additional car parking.

The timing of the staged development is dependent on demand, however, the final stages are anticipated to be completed in 2019 to allow continuous education provision for those starting at the school in 2015.

The maximum combined ECE, primary and secondary school roll will be 700 students.