Stephen Lethbridge
Some students to stay home due to teacher shortage
Schools reopen for the third term today but some are warning they are likely to ask children to stay home on some days because they will not have enough teachers.
The struggle to find staff to fill… Audio
Covid-19: Masks in schools get an upgrade
School teachers across New Zealand will now have to wear medical-grade masks.
While the government has said it has secured an initial supply of appropriate masks for teachers and school workers, with… Audio
Omicron outbreak: schools prepare for red light life
Thousands of students will be returning to school from next week.
But with the entire country now under the red traffic light setting; staff, teachers, and students from year four and up must wear… Audio
Covid-19: Primary principals consider what needs to be done for schools to reopen safely
Auckland primary school children might get four to five weeks of school before the final bell rings for the year, depending on Covid-19 case numbers.
The Education Minister Chris Hipkins says primary… Audio
Auckland Primary Principals Association president on plan for schools
President of Auckland Primary Principal's Association Stephen Lethbridge told Checkpoint if students return to school on November 15, he wants to see some clear guidelines around the "gold standard"… Video, Audio
Covid-19: Principals want students back in school
Some Auckland secondary school principals want students back in the classroom next Tuesday.
Auckland schools have been shut for nine weeks because of the delta outbreak.
Education Minister Chris… Audio
Covid-19: Auckland students, principals wait to hear what's next
Auckland students and teachers are waiting to learn what's in store for them next, in a government update later today.
But schools still face a rush to bring pupil's learning up to scratch by the end… Audio
Vax mandate sends message that schools safe for students
The Government has mandated the Covid-19 vaccine for high-risk workers in the health and disability sector, and school and early learning staff and support people. People working in education have… Audio
Mandatory vaccinations being considered for schools
Mandatory vaccinations are among the options up for consideration before Auckland's schools re-open on October the 18th, after the school holidays.
That date's just a pencil booking for now, pending… Audio
Covid-19: Resistance to proposed Tāmaki Makaurau school holiday change
The government will consider bringing school holidays forward in Auckland in response to the city's drawn-out lockdown - but can expect resistance from teachers and principals.
Education Minister… Audio
Most teachers do not want school holidays moved
Auckland Primary Principals Association President Stephen Lethbridge says 93 percent of primary and intermediate schools he has spoken to want the upcoming school holidays to remain the same.
"We've… Video, Audio
Covid-19: Lockdowns hurt kids writing
2020's lockdowns damaged children's achievement in writing, but had little effect on reading and maths.
An Education Ministry report says by the end of last year, writing scores for children in years… Audio
Auckland principals bracing for pushback over enrolment zones
Auckland principals are bracing for some pushback when enrolment zones are introduced for the first time at some schools next month.
The Ministry of Education says the zones are needed to deal with… Audio
Principals fear parent anger over new zones
Auckland principals in some parts of the city are expecting confusion and hostility when they introduce enrolment zones for their schools for the first time.
The schools are part of an unprecedented… Audio
Principals confident of minimal impact of lockdown
Auckland principals are confident this week's lockdown will have little impact on children's learning - so long as it is only for three days.
They say some of Auckland's 250,000 school students will… Audio
Back to school, but are there enough teachers?
The school year begins with some primary and secondary schools struggling to fill teacher vacancies. This is despite the latest information from the Ministry of Education suggesting there will be… Audio
Auckland schools record fastest growth in more than a decade
Auckland's schools have recorded their fastest growth in more than a decade, with mid-year figures showing four thousand more students than at the same time last year.
That's putting pressure on… Audio
School zone changes hoped to slow 'white flight'
A big increase in school enrolment zones is being touted as a way to slow white flight from low-decile schools.
The Education Ministry is introducing or altering 135 enrolment zones in Auckland over… Audio
Covid-19: Auckland schools reopen after weeks closed
Auckland's return to Alert Level 2 today means schools can open their gates for the first time in weeks.
With Covid-19 still in the community, some parents are questioning whether their children… Audio
Covid-19: Parents split on returning to school
With hundreds of thousands of children returning to school in Auckland today, teachers and parents are divided over whether they should be going back at all.
For some, there are questions over the… Audio