What do you need to know?

In New Zealand, all classroom teachers who work at least 8 days a fortnight are entitled to Classroom Release Time (CRT).

Essentially, CRT is time during the working week that is spent away from the classroom completing tasks including:

1. planning

2. evaluating

3. reporting

4. personal professional development

5. research

6. administrative responsibilities

We ensure that classroom release time supports teaching and learning programmes at our school and the professional growth of our teaching staff. Classroom release time acknowledges the work involved in teaching preparation and assessment, and other responsibilities of our staff (e.g. pastoral care, curriculum and administration).

In recent times CRT has been increasing to match the ever-evolving and complicated landscape that is primary school teaching.

In 2025 classroom teachers are entitled to one day of CRT every fortnight. This time allows them to ensure that they are continuing to provide the best teaching and learning experiences that they can.

In addition to CRT some staff members are entitled to other forms of release that enable them to be able to do their job to the best of their ability.

At Southbridge School we allocate additional release days to our Deputy Principal, Senior Roopu Leader, Junior Roopu Leader and our SENCO.

As you can see this means that our teachers will be spending between one and three days out of their classroom each fortnight.

To ensure that this doesn't disrupt teaching and learning we work hard to ensure continuity with our release teachers so that the same release teacher works in the same class all year.

This enables them to create positive relationships with the students in the class, understand and implement the routines within the classroom and work with the usual teacher to plan and implement a program that provides continuity of learning for students.

By exposing students to different teachers and thus different teaching styles we are helping prepare them for the transition to College where they will be expected to learn with many different teachers in many different ways.

CRT gives teachers time to be creative and plan awesome teaching and learning experiences for their classes. It allows them to complete administration tasks during the working day rather than at home, creating a better work-life balance and happier, energised teachers ready to work even harder with their students.

If you have any questions about CRT, please feel free to pop in for a chat.