Patrick Walsh
Students home again as PPTA yet to decide on action
Thousands of secondary school students will be at home this morning as schools wait to hear if industrial action will continue this week or not. The facilitator who oversaw bargaining between the… Audio
Principals worried fewer people will join school boards after school trip prosecution
Principals are worried there will be fewer people willing to be on school boards of trustees, after a board was charged with the death of a student who drowned during a school trip.
Yesterday, the… Audio
A 'truancy crisis': 60,000 students chronically absent
Ministry of Education figures show more than 60,000 students are classified as chronically absent, missing at least three days of school every fortnight. Almost 40 percent of pupils are not going to… Audio
Government encouraging foreign students to stay for summer
Government agencies are encouraging every foreign student in the country to stay here for the summer.
The campaign by Education New Zealand and other organisations is part tourism promotion and part… Audio
Teaching jobs at risk without international students
Hundreds of teaching jobs are at risk as schools, polytechnics and universities start budgeting for 2021 without millions of dollars in foreign student fees.
Education leaders say cuts are inevitable… Audio
Principals dismayed by minimal changes to physical force rules
Teachers are disappointed and frustrated with minimal changes the government has made to their right to physically restrain students.
They say after years of debate Parliament has passed amendments… Audio
Disappointment from teachers over physical restraint changes
Principals and teachers are unhappy the government has made minimal changes to their ability to physically restrain violent students.
They say after three years of debate about the problem, they were… Audio
Integrated schools not included in $400m cash injection
The Government has announced a $400 million package to modernise classrooms, fix roofs and gutters and improve heating and lighting.
Over 2000 eligible schools will receive a one-off cash injection… Audio
Growing fears about school children vaping
Concern about school children vaping has spread beyond Auckland and principals are warning even primary and intermediate-aged children are using vapes. The government says it will soon introduce a… Audio
Best of First Up for Friday 25 October 2019
On the podcast today, we speak to National's Environment Spokesperson Scott Simpson, Auckland's Safeswim program manager Nick Vigar talks water safety after the SkyCity fire, we got to New Delhi where… Audio
Principals divided on communities of learning scheme
Growing pressure on education spending is raising expectations the government will raid the $150-million-a-year that's being spent on one of National's flagship policies. The "communities of learning"… Audio
Should ethics be part of the school curriculum?
Deborah Stevens from the Centre for Science and Citizenship, which teaches ethics workshops, and former president of the Secondary Principal's Association, Patrick Walsh, discuss how to encourage kids… Audio
Teachers, principals worried restraint rules too tough
There's agreement teachers should only restrain students who are at risk of harming themselves or others, but warn that some are now afraid to even do that because of possible repercussions. Audio
Facebook scandal highlights issues with social media & schools
"Wellington College is not unique in having to deal with this sort of incident."
Two Wellington College students at the centre of a Facebook post about raping drunk young women have issued personal… Audio
Later school start for teens could alleviate traffic problems
Principal Patrick Walsh talks about the later start for secondary schools being beneficial for student achievement and alleviating traffic congestion. Audio
$700k school trip
Rotorua school principal Patrick Walsh discusses the financial rules around overseas school trips. Audio
Secondary Principals Association disputes number of suspensions
Patrick Walsh from the Secondary Principals Association disputes reports that schools are increasingly using illegal methods to expel students, saying such cases are very rare. Audio
Govt expecting big leap in flagship education programme
The Government's flagship plan to pay top teachers more to take on leadership roles is off to a slow start. But the Education Ministry says the scheme is about to take off. Audio
Sweeney Todd: a cautionary tale for schools
Schools across the country will be taking a Health and Safety lesson from Saint Kentigern's. Audio
No prosecution over Roast Busters-like competition
Teenage boys who took obscene photos with drunk girls without their consent and posted them online have been let off with a warning from police. Audio