What is a Trustee?

Our communities need great boards to help build great schools.

Trustees are active leaders in our schools and we need more people willing to use their skills and experiences for the benefit of students.

Trustees have an important role supporting strong professional leadership and effective teaching for all students through informed governance.

Both parents and people from throughout the wider community can be school trustees. It is important that boards represent the diversity of their school communities to ensure a bright future for our children. The elections also give parents of children at state and state integrated schools the opportunity to vote for candidates who will make a difference for their schools. It is an important responsibility and all eligible parents should use their vote in an informed way. 

 “Board members are entrusted by the community to ensure the success of our schools and a bright future for our children. We need an education system where all children are expected to succeed and one where we all take shared responsibility in ensuring this happens. As a member of a school board you can make things happen – you can make a difference.”

How about becoming a trustee and using your skills and experiences to help shape a positive future for our children?

What is a school board of trustees?

Every state and state-integrated school in New Zealand has a board of trustees. Boards bring families, communities and schools together to work for a quality education for our children.

The board of trustees is a Crown entity. It is the employer of all school staff and sets the school’s overall strategic direction. The school's principal is the board’s ‘chief executive’ and manages the school operation in line with the board’s policies.

The membership of the school board includes elected parent representatives, an elected staff representative and the principal. If the school has students above Year 9, the board also includes a student representative.

What do trustees do?

School trustees have a very important role in making sure every child achieves their potential at school.

Here are some of the things they do:
• Work with the principal and consult with staff, students and the community.
• Set the educational goals and strategic direction of the school.
• Monitor progress and let parents know how the school is progressing against its annual targets and how well students are achieving.
• Decide how the school’s funding will be spent.
• Select the school’s principal and support the development of all staff.
• Oversee the management of staff, property, finances, curriculum and administration.

What sort of skills do trustees need?

Trustees are active leaders in their schools and need a balance of skills and experiences. They need to work well in a team, be able to put plans in place for the school's future, ask challenging questions and have good communications skills. It helps to have an understanding of financial matters and the education sector, and experience in managing people.

Our schools need your skills

Who can become a trustee?

Parents, caregivers and people from the wider community can be nominated for election to a school board.

Working together for our children’s success

How do I become a trustee?

Ask your school about going along to a board meeting to see how it works. The board chairperson or any other board member can also answer questions about what the board does. Contact your school if you want to find out about standing for election, nominating someone else and voting in the election – they will be happy to help.