Empower science education leadership with the Science Teaching Leadership Programme in 2026
Delivered by Royal Society Te Apārangi and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Science Teaching Leadership Programme aims to empower educators to transform science education in New Zealand.
Programme Highlights
- Real-world science experience: Participating teachers engage in a two-term placement* with a science-focused organisation, deepening their understanding of scientific practices. (*Teacher release is funded by Royal Society.)
- Curriculum and Leadership Development: Through expert-led workshops and courses, teachers enhance their grasp of the Nature of Science strand in the New Zealand Curriculum and refine their leadership skills.
- School-Wide Impact: After the placement, teachers collaborate with their schools over 18 months to elevate science teaching and student learning.
Eligibility Criteria
- Registered primary, intermediate, or secondary science teachers (years 9 and 10) with at least three years of teaching experience.
- Permanent employment in a New Zealand school (full-time or part-time).
- New Zealand citizenship or holder of a New Zealand Residency permit.
Application for 2026 are now open!
- Applications for 2026 are open and close on 8 May 2025.
- For guidance on the application process and to access the application form, please visit the Apply for the Science Teaching Leadership Programme page.
For inquiries, contact stlp@royalsociety.org.nz.
Science Teaching Leadership Programme participants
Dianne Christenson and Sarah Johns are outstanding educators who have both participated in this programme and also both won the Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Award. The video Curiosity is key covers their presentation at the national summit Science Education: Fit for Purpose where they spoke on their day-to-day classroom experience about ways they’d found to render science education engaging, meaningful and relatable for learners.
The presenters of our Science capabilities in action webinar have also all taken part in the Science Teaching Leadership Programme.
These case studies below feature three more teachers who participated in this Programme:
Gerd Banke worked with Cawthron Institute scientists to develop the Kaitiakitanga o te moana resources as part of the Royal Society Te Apārangi Science Teaching Leadership Programme.
