The Principals Academy Trust is schooling leaders for success

The trust provides mentorship and leadership training to school principals in marginalised communities, empowering them to uplift schools and improve their results. By Takudzwa Pongweni and Siyabonga Goni

- By Takudzwa Pongweni and Siyabonga Goni

Imagine a school principal, often working in isolation, who is facing a myriad challenges in underresourced communities.

Now, imagine the person having a dedicated mentor, an experienced former principal, who offers not just advice but also a supportive space to reflect, strategise and grow, all while maintaining accountability.

This is the essence of the Principals Academy Trust. Founded in 2012, the trust has emerged as a significant change maker empowering school leaders in marginalised communities to convert schools into beacons of hope and learning.

The trust was born out of the recognition that effective educational leadership and management are the most critical factors in improving learners' performance, particularly in communities grappling with the devastating effects of deeply unequal education and racial discrimination.

Rick Haw, a University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business alumnus, together with Bruce Probyn, a distinguished retired principal with 27 years' experience, and educationist Alan Clarke identified a shortage of leadership development and business principles in the education arena.

In response, they established the Principals Academy Trust, which collaborated with the business school to design a leadership programme that mentors principals on how to transform their schools.

"In 2013, we launched a programme that welcomed principals from marginalised communities in the Western Cape. These principals were coached by retired school leaders, including myself, over a three-year period," said Probyn.

"During their second year, they attended a specially designed programme at the Graduate School of Business, which taught them to think differently about schooling and was tailored specifically for school principals."