The role of a school principal has never been more complex or more critical. Beyond managing operations, staffing, pedagogy, and parent relations, principals today are also expected to be counsellors, crisis managers, and wellbeing champions. But who is looking after their wellbeing?
Recent data reveals a growing concern: school leaders across New Zealand and internationally are under immense and expanding pressure, with many showing signs of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and mental distress.
The Weight of Leadership
Independent school principals face a unique blend of expectations. High parental engagement, performance pressure, compliance demands, and staff challenges are all part of daily life. While the NZ education sector doesn’t always spotlight principal mental health, international data offers a cautionary mirror.
In Australia, the 2024 Principal Health & Wellbeing Survey revealed:
• Over 50% experienced threats of violence.
• Nearly half triggered “red flag” alerts for occupational health risk.
• The top three stressors: workload, student mental health, and lack of time for instructional leadership.
• A 2023 NZEI Principal Sentiment Snapshot, of 629 primary‑sector principals responding, nearly 47% of new principals (those in their first or second year) said they intend to leave the role within the next five years.
NZ principals face similar challenges. The NZCER national survey found that over 65% of primary principals feel their workload is unsustainable. For secondary leaders, psychological distress and professional isolation are rising, with many citing insufficient access to external support services.
Emotional Labour and Invisible Costs
It’s true, leadership is often lonely. Many principals report feelings of isolation and an inability to show vulnerability for fear of undermining confidence in their role. The result? Mental fatigue, sleep disruption, anxiety, and emotional withdrawal.
When a leader is constantly giving to staff, students, and families, but receives little structured support in return burnout becomes more than a buzzword.
What’s Helping
Despite the challenges, many schools are finding ways to support their leaders more effectively. Promising practices include:
• Shared Leadership Models to reduce overload
• Peer Networks & Coaching for connection and reflection
• Wellbeing Plans formalised by school boards
• Boundary Setting with protected time and clear expectations
• Access to Counselling or Support Services
Some boards now treat wellbeing as a strategic priority not a personal weakness helping reframe the conversation.
What Gets in the Way?
Even with goodwill, several barriers persist:
• Time scarcity
• Stigma around help-seeking
• Unclear governance responsibilities
• Fragmented or reactive support structures
Without systemic backing, principal wellbeing is often seen as optional or left to personal resilience.
What Schools and Boards Can Do
Independent schools have the agility to lead on this issue. Here’s how:
1. Treat wellbeing as strategic – vital to school health and student outcomes
2. Embed support in governance – policy, resourcing, and review processes
3. Invest in prevention – coaching, PD, peer support, and debrief structures
4. Protect boundaries – model sustainable leadership behaviours
5. Create a culture of care – where wellbeing is normalised, not stigmatised
Looking Forward
Take it from me who has a bird's eye view across a thousand schools on 3 continents, principals are the bedrock of school culture, morale, and community trust. But even the most capable leaders need support.
Independent schools have an opportunity and a responsibility to lead the way in ensuring our school leaders are not just surviving, but thriving.
About the Author
James Wilson is the National Director and Co-Founder of SchoolTV, a leading digital mental health and wellbeing platform used in over 1,000 schools across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. SchoolTV supports school communities by improving mental health literacy and empowering school leaders, staff, and families through expert-informed content and analytics.
To learn more about how SchoolTV supports principal wellbeing and whole-school mental health initiatives, visit www.schooltv.me
