Typical tenure of primary school principals

[tinker_bell]

manwao\" post_id=\"2094255\" time=\"1672919942\" user_id=\"188475:

Hi

Does anyone know what is the typical or average tenure of a principal in a primary school?

Are they forced to rotate after a certain number of years?

Thanks

Not sure if this helps.

https://i.imgur.com/xKWRfYB.png\">

I think principals have to rotate to a new school every 5 to 7 years?

[ChiefKiasu]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2094256\" time=\"1672920836\" user_id=\"194652:

Not sure if this helps.
...

Wow... that's good info, @tinker_bell. Thanks!

[sharonkhoo]

tinker_bell\" post_id=\"2094256\" time=\"1672920836\" user_id=\"194652:

I think principals have to rotate to a new school every 5 to 7 years?

That's the norm, but it's not a hard and fast rule. Some principals may have shorter tours for various reasons - resignation, poor health, unsuitability etc. Sometimes they may be moved to other jobs (in MOE, for e.g.) or another school. Some may have longer tours if no replacement can be found (in schools which have more criteria, e.g. those with religious affiliations). MOE does the big juggling act every year, and will have lots of different constraints.

[SG_KP1]

Where my two kids went to primary school, the principals are on Year 6 and Year 9 (in 2023).

[floppy]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2094294\" time=\"1672975010\" user_id=\"28674:

…
(in schools which have more criteria, e.g. those with religious affiliations). MOE does the big juggling act every year, and will have lots of different constraints.

To add, in government-aided schools (ie schools set up by non-governmental organizations but receiving a government aid in grant):
- the approval of a principal’s appointment lies with the DG of Ed
BUT
- the decision to appoint (or to nominate a person for appointment) lies with the manager of the school (ie School Management Committee).

If the manager thinks a particular P is doing a good job, they are unlikely to nominate a new person or to accept a new recommendation, unless the P asks for a move. It won’t be unusual for such a P to have a tenure of > 10 years.

[SG_KP1]

floppy\" post_id=\"2094307\" time=\"1672982186\" user_id=\"97579:

To add, in government-aided schools (ie schools set up by non-governmental organizations but receiving a government aid in grant):
- the approval of a principal’s appointment lies with the DG of Ed
BUT
- the decision to appoint (or to nominate a person for appointment) lies with the manager of the school (ie School Management Committee).

If the manager thinks a particular P is doing a good job, they are unlikely to nominate a new person or to accept a new recommendation, unless the P asks for a move. It won’t be unusual for such a P to have a tenure of > 10 years.

I've always wondered how this worked for the gov't aided schools, thanks. But as for the part in bold, happen to have any data sets here or is this just your \"gut feel?\" From a quick eye test / annual announcements, what you say (in bold) seemed to be the case before 2000 (or maybe even up to 2010 or so +/-), with many principals serving decades.

However, in recent times, there seems to be a lot more turnover in under 10 years.

[floppy]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2094315\" time=\"1672986975\" user_id=\"188234:

I've always wondered how this worked for the gov't aided schools, thanks. But as for the part in bold, happen to have any data sets here or is this just your \"gut feel?\" From a quick eye test / annual announcements, what you say (in bold) seemed to be the case before 2000 (or maybe even up to 2010 or so +/-), with many principals serving decades.

However, in recent times, there seems to be a lot more turnover in under 10 years.

Principals, like most employees, may not want to repeat the same job / stay in the same place. To get a modern era staff to stay in the same position for > 10 years is a tough ask (in some of my past companies, Long Service Award starts after 10 years of service; these days, you will be lucky to have an employee staying for more than 5 years). If a good performing Principal asks for a move to seek greener pastures or to take on a higher appointment (e.g. superintendent / cluster principal) after a certain period of time, I can't see how the SMC would reject or ignore the request. However, if the P likes what he / she is doing and has no intention to move, he / she can stay for a long period of time without the pressured of thou shalt be rotated.

Some notable long serving principals in recent times (~2010):
TNS - Dr Chin Kim Woon - 2009 - 2019 (retired)
CFS - Foo Mui Chuw - 2013 till current

It seems like being P at one of SHHK schools is a good bet for longevity (two of their former P also serve as P for 29 years in their respective schools pre-2010)

[Imp75]

floppy\" post_id=\"2094329\" time=\"1672992482\" user_id=\"97579:

Principals, like most employees, may not want to repeat the same job / stay in the same place. To get a modern era staff to stay in the same position for > 10 years is a tough ask (in some of my past companies, Long Service Award starts after 10 years of service; these days, you will be lucky to have an employee staying for more than 5 years). If a good performing Principal asks for a move to seek greener pastures or to take on a higher appointment (e.g. superintendent / cluster principal) after a certain period of time, I can't see how the SMC would reject or ignore the request. However, if the P likes what he / she is doing and has no intention to move, he / she can stay for a long period of time without the pressured of thou shalt be rotated.

Some notable long serving principals in recent times (~2010):
TNS - Dr Chin Kim Woon - 2009 - 2019 (retired)
CFS - Foo Mui Chuw - 2013 till current

It seems like being P at one of SHHK schools is a good bet for longevity (two of their former P also serve as P for 29 years in their respective schools pre-2010)

I love Dr Chin. He is a super nice principal. I ask u Ah….which principal go to airport to send off or receive the students from overseas program and the timing of the flight are really wee hours. Only him lo out of the 5 schools.

[floppy]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2094332\" time=\"1672995457\" user_id=\"2358:

I love Dr Chin. He is a super nice principal. I ask u Ah….which principal go to airport to send off or receive the students from overseas program and the timing of the flight are really wee hours. Only him lo out of the 5 schools.

Err, I don't know enough P to comment whether there are other P who go to airport to send off / receive students from overseas program at ungodly hours...

But I do know,
Not many primary schools are capable of / able to organise overseas program lor :rotflmao:

(From what I have heard / know of, many parents love him also)