I am currently on secondment to the Ministry of Education for 2026:

The Ministry of Education has appointed John Armstrong as a Special Project Lead to assist them with their Gloriavale work programme.  John has been seconded for a year from Henley School, the largest primary school in the Nelson Marlborough West Coast (NMWC) region, where he is currently Principal. He brings extensive experience, leadership expertise and strong local connections to this role with 27 years as a principal across a range of schools, including Henley School.

His background also includes serving as a seconded Education Review Officer and, more recently, as a Ministry of Education Leadership Advisor (2023) for the NMWC region. With strong family links to the West Coast, John is also very familiar with the Gloriavale community and understands its unique context. Additionally, he was a member of the Ministry’s interagency team supporting Gloriavale and has worked on-site at the school, providing valuable insight into the needs of its students and families.

Ms Leeanne Kyle is Acting Principal for 2026