PRINCIPAL

Step into a leadership opportunity at a co-educational secondary school on Auckland’s North Shore. Birkenhead College is a welcoming and inclusive school serving approximately 500 students in Years 9–13, where students are known as individuals, relationships are valued, and learning is supported by a strong sense of belonging.

Following the retirement of our current principal, this is an exciting opportunity for an experienced educational leader to join a well-established school with a positive staff and student culture, strong community connections, and a clear commitment to both wellbeing and achievement. Birkenhead College offers the advantages of a smaller secondary school environment, where meaningful relationships underpin engagement, progress, and success.

We are seeking a principal who will bring vision, warmth, and the ability to inspire others. The successful applicant will have at least five years’ senior leadership experience and the capability to foster a culturally responsive environment, build trusted relationships with staff, students, whānau, and the wider community, and champion high-quality teaching and learning for all students. You will be a thoughtful, people-centred leader who values collaboration, continuous improvement, and the potential of every young person.

This is an opportunity to lead a school with heart, build on strong foundations, and shape the next chapter for Birkenhead College. If you are inspired by inclusive practice, educational excellence, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference for young people, we encourage you to explore this exceptional leadership role.

The successful applicant will work alongside the Board, staff, students, and whānau to lead the implementation of the school’s strategic vision and continue building a culture of belonging, achievement, and continuous improvement. We warmly encourage interested applicants to request an application pack and submit their application.

To find out more or to request an application pack, please contact:

Mrs A McMahon, Board Secretary: zma@birkenhead.school.nz 09 483 9039 ext 832

by 17 June, 2026.

TEACHER IN CHARGE OF CHEMISTRY

Required subjects: Senior chemistry to NCEA Level 3 and Scholarship, junior general science

A rare opportunity has arisen to join our close-knit, highly collaborative Science faculty. Guided by our school motto, "where everybody is somebody," Birkenhead College is a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse community with exceptionally low staff turnover and a deep commitment to staff well-being.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, relational, and innovative Chemistry specialist to lead our Senior Chemistry Programme. As a smaller school, we offer a high degree of professional trust and true curriculum autonomy, allowing you the creative freedom to shape and implement courses that bring your unique pedagogical vision to life. You will work alongside an experienced, high-functioning team that operates as a unified faculty rather than in silos.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A deep passion for chemistry and a proven track record of building exceptional, respectful relationships with a diverse student body, whānau, and colleagues.
• The initiative to confidently lead and curate the chemistry curriculum independently.
• Strong knowledge of the New Zealand Curriculum, current NCEA alignment, and a commitment to bicultural practice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• A positive, solution-focused attitude with a ready sense of humour.

Applicants must be registered teachers with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (or have eligibility to register) and hold a current practicing certificate.

Please email your CV, a covering letter detailing your relational teaching philosophy and how you would bring our core values (BC Whānau, BC Respect, BC Pride) to life, along with the contact details of three referees to Mrs McMahon, Principal's EA, by 12 June: office@birkenhead.school.nz 

Deciding to leave your current career and embark on a new one is a big decision – particularly when you factor in re-training in your chosen new field. This leap of faith has been made easier for those wanting to train as a teacher thanks to the Auckland Schools’ Teacher Trainee Programme (ASTTP). The ASTTP offers a brilliant solution for new graduates and career changers – onsite teacher training at a local high school with your university fees paid for and a $12,500 stipend paid to you while you train.

David Ferguson, Headmaster of Westlake Boys’ High School says, "This programme offers a pathway for people who have always considered teaching as a career possibility but weren’t sure how they could make the move. We're really interested in people who have worked in other jobs and are looking to change careers, as well as graduates from a wide range of disciplines”.

60 teacher trainees, aged from mid-20s to over 50, are taking part in the scheme this year, with 24 participating Auckland schools offering this programme. The ASTTP model gives teacher trainees the advantage of training on-the-job, alongside outstanding teachers and mentors, giving them first-hand experience of the full breadth of school life. While training, they complete their Graduate or Post Graduate teachers diploma course online through the University of Waikato. Our teacher trainees also have the opportunity of attending and participating in a dozen professional learning workshops at twelve different schools throughout Auckland.​​​​​​​

If you would like to find out more, visit www.schoolbasedtraining.org where there are several first-hand experiences from current and former teacher trainees, as well as videos and podcasts. Alternatively, contact office@birkenhead.school.nz to arrange an appointment time to come in and discuss the programme.