LEADERSHIP & COACHING | KAIĀRAHITANGA
Professional
Learning
Groups
Leadership can be lonely. It doesn't have to be.
Facilitated, high-trust peer groups for Principals, DPs, APs and Senior Leaders, meeting in person across New Zealand and online.
8 facilitated sessions a year · $850 ex GST
A trusted circle of peers who understand the job
For more than twenty years, The Education Group has facilitated Professional Learning Groups for school leaders. Demand has never slowed, because PLGs give leaders something that is hard to find anywhere else: a trusted circle of peers who understand the job, guided by an experienced facilitator who keeps the time focused and worthwhile.
Each group is a small network of senior leaders in similar roles. You step away from your school, talk openly about what is really happening, stay on top of new legislation and policy, and leave with practical ways forward.
The professional growth and development that I was able to do as part of this PLG was phenomenal.
THE CHALLENGES
What senior leaders tell us
Whatever the size or type of school, the same pressures come up again and again.
01
Few people you can talk to openly
The issues that keep you up at night often can't be shared with staff, your board or whānau. Many leaders carry them alone.
02
Constant change
New legislation, policy shifts, curriculum changes and reporting requirements arrive faster than most leaders can absorb them, on top of running a school.
03
Problems without a playbook
Complex staffing matters, difficult conversations, community concerns and student issues rarely come with a clear answer.
04
No time to step back
The day-to-day pulls you into reactive mode. Thinking strategically about your school, and your own leadership, gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
05
Reinventing the wheel
Leaders in schools down the road are facing the same challenges, but there is seldom a structured way to share what's working.
06
Your own growth comes last
Complex staffing matters, difficult conversations, community concerns and student issues rarely come with a clear answer.
HOW A PLG HELPS
From carrying it alone to
working it through together
The challenge
Few people you can talk to openly
Constant change
Problems without a playbook
No time to step back
Reinventing the wheel
Your own growth comes last
What your PLG gives you
A confidential, high-trust space with peers who understand the role, where nothing said in the room leaves it
Time to unpack new legislation and policy together, with a facilitator who is current with the latest developments
Real problems worked through with colleagues who have faced them, using a solutions-focused approach
Protected time away from school to think, reflect and plan
Shared best practice, tools and ideas you can take straight back to your school
Ongoing professional and personal support that puts you, the leader, at the centre
THE BENEFITS
Why leaders keep coming back
A trusted network of peers
Over time, your group becomes a network you can rely on, within meetings and beyond them. Many of our groups have been meeting for years.
Highly experienced facilitators
Every group is led by an Education Group facilitator who has been in your shoes. Our team have Principal and senior leadership experience, are internationally accredited leadership coaches and stay current with the latest sector developments. They keep each meeting focused, bring expert knowledge and questioning, and hold the trust that makes the group work.
A safe place to be honest
Senior leaders tell us they grow best in a group with a high level of trust and rapport. Every PLG is built on confidentiality, so you can bring the real issues, not the polished version.
Current and confident
Stay across new legislation, policy and sector changes, and hear how other schools are responding before you have to make your own call.
Practical solutions
Bring a challenge, leave with options. Discussion is solutions-focused, drawing on the collective experience of the room and the facilitator.
Time to breathe
Stepping away from your school gives you the space to think clearly, recharge and come back with fresh perspective.
Stronger leadership, stronger schools
When leaders are supported, connected and current, their schools benefit.
The Education Group are highly experienced facilitators and AMAZING at what they do.
The only meeting I never miss.
What principals tell us about their PLG
INCREDIBLE VALUE
$850
8 facilitated sessions a year
That's about $106 a session (excl. GST)
HOW PLGs WORK
Simple to join. Built around you.
Facilitated by The Education Group
Experience has shown that an independent facilitator is crucial to a group's success. Each PLG is led by one of our team, all of whom have Principal and/or senior leadership experience and are accredited leadership coaches.
Small groups of peers
Groups bring together leaders in similar roles: Principals, Deputy Principals, Assistant Principals and other Senior Leaders. [Typical group size: X–X leaders.]
Shaped by the group
The agenda reflects what members need: new legislation and sector updates, challenges members are facing, best practice from other schools, and members' own growth and wellbeing.
Regular meetings
8 facilitated sessions a year, [X hours each]. Meetings are held away from school or online, so you can be fully present.
WAYS TO JOIN
Find the group that fits
Join an established group
We facilitate many established PLGs across the country. Where there is space, new members can join an existing group in their area.
Start a new group
New groups are forming all the time. Join one in your region, or bring together colleagues from your Kāhui Ako, cluster or network and we'll facilitate it.
Leading a remote school?
Distance shouldn't mean leading alone. Senior leaders in remote and rural schools can join a group online and get the same trusted, facilitated support and peer network as everyone else, wherever they are.
Hear from leaders in our PLGs
FAQs
Questions leaders ask
Can't see your question? Call us on (09) 953 0523.
Who are PLGs for?
Principals, Deputy Principals, Assistant Principals and Senior Leaders in primary, intermediate and secondary schools.
How often do groups meet?
8 times per year, X hours each.]
How many people are in a group?
[X–X leaders, small enough to build genuine trust.]
Is what we discuss confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is the foundation of every group and is agreed by all members.
Can I join part-way through the year?
[Yes, where an established group has space / New groups start in Term X.]
Can our cluster or Kāhui Ako form its own group?
Yes. Get in touch and we'll talk through how we can set it up.
I'm in a remote school. Can I still join?
Yes. Remote senior leaders join online groups and get the same facilitated, high-trust experience. For many, it's the support they can't get anywhere else.
What does it cost?
$850 for 8 sessions a year, about $106 a session. [incl./excl. GST]
Ready to join a trusted network of leaders?
Enquire now about joining a 2027 PLG in your area, starting a new group, or joining online.
(09) 953 0523 | info@educationgroup.co.nz