- The introduction of a new criterion for private school registration has led to ERO streamlining the structure of its private school report. The report now lists the criteria for registration as follows:
ERO's Judgement- The school has premises that are suitable as described in clause 3, Schedule 7
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school has suitable tuition standards as described in clauses 2(e),(f) and 5, Schedule 7
Meeting / Not meeting
- The school has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in clause 6, Schedule 7) to be managers of a private school
- The school has premises that are suitable as described in clause 3, Schedule 7
- The two criteria that will be presented in a different format are those that refer to the school as a physically and emotionally safe place for students and managers who are fit and proper persons.
- The section on managers as fit and proper persons is similar. It will have one of these two statements as is appropriate.
The school’s manager(s) have attested that they comply with the provision as described in clause 6, Schedule 7 in respect to their being fit and proper person(s) to be manager(s) of the school.
ERO was not able to ascertain whether the school’s manager(s) complied with the provision as described in clause 6 in respect to their being fit and proper person(s) to be manager(s) of the school. ERO therefore recommends that the Ministry of Education discuss this matter further with the school.
- The section on the school as a physically and emotionally safe place for students takes the Ministry of Education definition of a safe place followed by ERO’s judgement.
A safe place is one in which risks to student safety are regularly assessed and evaluated with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, harm. A safe place is one where clear policies exist and are acted upon to eliminate or minimise harm.
ERO’s judgement is based on the quality, intent and regular review of the school’s policies and procedures.
ABC school has/ does not have regularly reviewed policies and procedures to provide for a physically and emotionally safe place for students.
- This section is followed by a conclusion summarising the findings outlined in the box described above. If a school has one or more of the criteria for registration that are not met, this is where they will be outlined in the context of what the school needs to do to meet the criteria. This is the outline statement that we will use if it is needed:
ERO considers that [name of school] does not meet the criteria for registration as a private school set out in clause 2, Schedule 7 of the Education and Training Act 2020. In order to meet the registration criteria, ERO recommends that the school take the actions to: areas to be listed as required.
- The last two sections are for schools that are signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 (as amended in 2019) and those that have a school hostel.
- The new report was introduced in Term One 2020. If you would like to send in your feedback on the new structure, please send it to:
Education Review Office 101 Lambton Quay
Box 2799
WELLINGTON 6011
info@ero.govt.nz