Applications Open for New Zealand Leadership Awards

Applications are open now for Linking Minds, a prestigious international award for young teachers.

Administered by the British Council, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Teachers Council and NZ/ UK Link Foundation in association with British Airways, Linking Minds gives four young New Zealand teachers the opportunity to travel to the UK on a fully-funded professional development programme.

The theme of this year�s programme is leadership. The selected teachers will spend a fortnight hosted by a local authority in the UK, to learn about latest trends, initiatives and to share current thinking and ideas from New Zealand.

This is the fourth year Linking Minds has been offered. Director of British Council New Zealand, Paula Middleton, says the scheme aims to help create world class teaching practices: �It gives some aspirational young New Zealand teachers, our future leaders, a chance to learn and share best practice.

�This is a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand teachers to understand and learn about international trends, and look critically at what they are doing and where improvements could be made. These visits have already proved valuable in creating connections between the UK and New Zealand.�

Secretary for Education Howard Fancy agrees: �It�s exciting to support this opportunity for teachers who are already leading learning and teaching in their own school communities.  Such teachers deserve to be recognised.  This opportunity will allow them to share and enhance their developing knowledge about what works for their students. �

Dr Peter Lind, Director of the Teachers Council, says that the Linking Minds scheme is a wonderful opportunity to enrich the profession through support to talented young teachers.  �These teachers will report to their professional peers on their return and this in itself will broaden their horizons and ensure their experiences benefit others beyond their particular schools.�

Teachers interested in applying for the 2006 Linking Minds programme should contact Julie Weir, [email protected]

For more information contact:

Nicola Chilton                                                               

Marketing & Communications Manager,

British Council New Zealand                               

Ph 04 924 2843 Mob 021 244 2054

[email protected]