1209 Legal Responsibilities Policy Review - 25 September 2012

Section of Operations Policy Being Reviewed

Legal Responsibilities

The principal will not fail to ensure that:

The school is required to meet many legislative statutes and regulations. Fortunately the Education Review Office Board Assurance Statement brings the requirements together in their questionnaire and provided a useful basis for the review.

A summary of the questionnaire results is below. Areas requiring attention have been highlighted.

Section 1 - Board Administration

1. Is the board properly elected and constituted? [section 94 Education Act 1989].

2. Are any conflicts of interest of board members fully declared? [s 103A Ed Act 1989;; Clause 8(8) Sixth Schedule Ed.Act 1989)].

3. Are   board   meetings   properly   run?   [Parts   7/8   Local   Government   Official   Information   and   Meetings   Act   1987;;   Clauses   7/8   Sixth   Schedule  Ed  Act  1989].

4.   Are   minutes   of   board   meetings   properly   kept   (especially   minutes   of   meetings   that   exclude   the   public - commonly called "in committee")? [Good   practice;;   Local   Government   Official   Information  and  Meetings  Act  1987].

5. Does   the   charter   reflect   the   purposes   set   out   in   section   61(2)   of   the   Education   Act   1989   (i.e.   establish   the   mission,   aims,   objectives,   directions,   and   targets   of   the   board   that   give   effect   to   the   national   education   guidelines),   and   provide   a   base   against which the board's actual performance can be assessed?

6. Have   newly   elected,   co-­opted   or   appointed   trustees   confirmed   to   the   board  that  they  are  eligible  to  be  trustees?  [s  103B  Ed  Act  1989].

7. Has   the   board   met   all   the   requirements   for   planning   and   reporting?   [School  Charter;;  s  61  Ed  Act  1989].

For   questions   8 -11,   has   the   board,   with   the   principal   and   teaching  staff:

8. Developed   a   strategic   plan   which   documents   how   they   are   giving   effect   to   the   NEGs   through   their   policies,   plans   and   programmes,   including   those   for   curriculum,   National   Standards   and   assessment?   [NAG  2(a)].

9. Maintained   an   on-­going   programme   of   self-­review   in   relation   to   the   above   policies,   plans   and   programmes,   including   evaluation   of   information  on  student  achievement?  [NAG  2(b)].

10. Reported   to   students   and   their   parents   on   the   achievement   of   individual   students,  and     Reported to the school's community:   * on  the  achievement  of  students  as  a  whole,  and     * on  the  achievement  of  groups  (identified  through  NAG  1(c)    (i.e   students  who  are  not  achieving,  or  are  at  risk  of  not  achieving  or   who  have  special  needs).  * including the achievement of Māori students against plans and targets   referred   to   in   NAG   1(e)     (i.e   plans   and   targets   for improving the achievement of Māori students)  ]  [NAG  2(c)]   Received regular and useful information aboiut the achievement of Māori students in the school?

11. Reported   to   students   (enrolled   in   Years   1-8)   and   their   parents   on   the students' progress and achievement in relation to National Standards? and Reported to parenst in plain language at least twice a year ? [NAG2A]

12. Does the school’s charter have targets on student achievement, including assessment of students in accordance with the National Standards published under section 60A(1)(ba) of the Education Act 1989? [section 61(4) Education Act 1989].

13. Did the board’s annual report include a statement which provides an analysis of any variance between the school’s performance and the relevant aims, objectives, directions, priorities or targets set out in the school charter? [section 87(2)(e)Education Act 1989].

14. Is   the   board   satisfied   that   the   school   has   been   open   for   instruction   for   at   least  the  minimum  required  number  of  hours  per  day  and  days  per  year?   [s  65A  and  s  65B  Ed.Act  1989;;  NAG  6]. Link to Gazette Notice****Added to Calendars - will adjust - 388 half days 2012

15. Is   the   board   satisfied   student   absences   are   correctly   recorded,   monitored   and   followed   up?   [s   25   Ed   Act   1989;;   NAG   6;;   Education   School   Attendance  Regulations  1951].

16. Does  the  board  ensure  all  procedures  and  practices  relating  to  the  stand-­ down/suspension/exclusion   and/or   expulsion   of   any   student   are   implemented  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  provisions  of  the  Education   Act,   the   Education   Stand-­down,   Suspensions,   Exclusions,   and   Expulsion   Rules  1999  and  guidance  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Education?  [ss  13-­18   Ed  Act  1989].

17. Are   there     policies/procedures     to   ensure   compliance   with   legislation,   including  the  non-­discrimination  provisions  in  the  Human  Rights  Act?     Are   these   policies/procedures   regularly   reviewed,   and   implemented   appropriately  by  the  board?  [Good  practice].

18. Has  the  board  complied  with  the  conditions  prescribed  by  the  Minister  of   Education   by   Gazette   notice   under   section   71   of   the   Education   Act   1989   in   relation   to   students   who   undertake   work-­based   learning   or   work   experience?  [Write  N/A  if  not  applicable].

19. Does  the  board  have  guidelines  relating  to  compliance  with  the  Copyright   Act  1994  and  are  they  implemented?  [Good  practice].

20. Has   the   board   complied   with   the   Public   Records   Act   2005   in   relation   to   the  retention  and  disposal  of  school  records?   [also   refer   to   MOE/Archives   NZ   -­   School   Records   Retention/Disposal   Information  Pack]

Comments/Further Action

Section 2 - Curriculum

(If  parts  of  these  Questions  are  not  applicable  to  your  school  please  write  N/A)

Has the board, through the principal and staff:

1. Developed  and  implemented  teaching  and  learning  programmes: (i) providing  all  students  in  years  1-­10  with  opportunities   to  achieve  for  success  in  the  following  areas:

The Arts

English

Health  and  Physical  Education

Mathematics  and  Statistics

Science

Social  Sciences

Technology

(ii) giving   priority   to   student   achievement   in   literacy   and   numeracy,  especially  in  years1-­8?

(ii) giving   priority   to   student   achievement   in   literacy   and   numeracy,  especially  in  years1-­8?

(iii) giving   priority   to   regular   quality   physical   activity   that   develops   movement   skills   for   all   students,   especially   in   years   1-­6?

Has the board, through the principal and staff:

2. Through   a   range   of   assessment   practices,   gathered   information   that   is   sufficiently   comprehensive   to   enable   the   progress   and   achievement   of   students  to  be  evaluated,  giving  priority  first  to:

(i) student   achievement   in   literacy   and   numeracy   especially   in   years  1-­8  and  then  to:

(ii) breadth  and  depth  of  learning  related  to  the  needs,  abilities  and   interests   of   students,   the   nature   of   the   school's   curriculum,   and   the   scope   of   the   New   Zealand   Curriculum   as   expressed   in   The   New  Zealand  Curriculum?

Has the board, through the principal and staff:

3. On  the  basis  of  good  quality  assessment  information,  identified:

(i) students  and  groups  of  students  who  are  not  achieving?

(ii) students  and  groups  of  students  who  are  at  risk  of  not  achieving?

(iii) students  and  groups  of  students  who  have  special  needs  (including   gifted  and  talented  students)?

(iv) aspects  of  the  curriculum  which  require  particular  attention?

4. Developed   and   implemented   teaching   and   learning   strategies   to   address   the  needs  of  students  and  aspects  of  the  curriculum  identified  in  3  above?

5. In  consultation  with  the  school's  Mäori  community,  developed  and  made   known   to   the   school's   community,   policies   and/or   procedures,   plans   and   targets  for  improving  the  achievement  of  Mäori  students?

6. Provided   appropriate   career   education   and   guidance   for   all   students   in   Year  7  and  above,  with  a  particular  emphasis  on  specific  career  guidance   for  those  students  who  have  been  identified  by  the  school  as  being  at  risk   of  leaving  school  unprepared  for  the  transition  to  the  workplace  or  further   education/training?

7(a). Ensured   that   teachers   of   students   with   disabilities,   and   other   contact  staff,  have  a  sound  understanding  of  the  learning  needs  of   students  with  disabilities?

7(b). Where   necessary,   put   in   place   support   systems   centred   on   each   individual   with   disabilities?   [NAG   1;;   NEG   7;;   NZ   Disability   Strategy  in  Schools].

Has the board, through the principal and staff:

8. Ensured that current practice meets the requirement to base teaching and learning programmes on The New Zealand Curriculum national curriculum statements for:

The Arts

English

Health and Physical Education

Mathematics and Statistics

Science

Social Sciences

Technology

Technology

9. Worked   towards   offering   students   opportunities   for   learning   second   or       subsequent  languages  (Years  7-­10)?  [The  New  Zealand  Curriculum].

10. Complied  with  the  requirement  to  adopt  a  statement  on  the  delivery  of  the       health  curriculum,  at  least  once  in  every  two  years,  after  consultation  with   the  school  community?  [Section  60B  Education  Act  1989].

Comments/Further Action

Section 3 - Health, Safety and Welfare

Does   the   board   have   health   and   safety   policies,   and   procedures/guidelines/practices  linked  to:

1. Physical  and  emotional  health  of  students?  [NAG  5].

2. Child  abuse?  (prevention  and  reporting)  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice].

3. Behaviour  management?  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice].

4. Discipline  procedures?  [Good  practice].

5. Guidance  counselling?  [NAG  1(vi);;  s  77  Ed  Act  1989].

6. Dealing  with  smoking,  drugs  and  alcohol?  [NAG  5].

7. Management   and   recording/administering   of   medication?               [Good  practice].

8. Prohibiting   the   use   of   force?   (corporal   punishment)  [s  139A  Ed  Act  1989].

9. Cross  cultural  awareness?  [Good  practice].****Don to add a very brief statement somewhere

10. Dealing  with  parents  who  are  subject  to  court  orders  affecting  day   to  day  care  of,  or  contact  with,  a  child    at  school?  [NAG  5;;  Good   practice].

11. Complaints?  [Good  practice].

12. Internet  safety?  and, Has   the   Internet   Safety   Policy   been   implemented   in   the   last  year?  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice].

13(a). The   Code   of   Practice   for   School   Exempt   Laboratories   approved   by  the  Environmental  Risk  Management  Authority,  about  the  use   of   hazardous   substances   for   the   teaching   of   science   and   technology?

13(b) The   Code   of   Ethical   Conduct   for   the   use   of   Animals   in   research   and  teaching  in  schools?  [refer  to  www.nzase.org.nz/ethics]Do we use animals???? if so Don to add a very brief statement somewhere

14. Protection   for   staff   and   students   from   excessive   UV   radiation   exposure  over  the  summer  months?  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice]. ****Don to add a very brief statement somewhere

15. Prevention   of   sexual   harassment?   [ss   62,   68   Human   Rights   Act   1993;;  ss  108,  117,  118  Employment  Relations  Act  2000]. ****Don to add a very brief statement somewhere

16. Collection,   storage   and   access   to   personal   information?             [Privacy   Act   1993]. Principal is privacy officer - reviewed with Health and Safety do we need more explicit statement???

17. The   systematic   identification   and   remedying   of   existing   and   potential   hazards?  [s7  Health  and  Safety  in  Employment  Act  1992]. See Health and Safety Procedures*****Lock down procedure - Don

18. First  aid/notification  of  accidents,  in  particular,  recording  of  all  accidents   as  required  by  the  Ministry  of  Education  Health  and  Safety  Code?  [Good   practice].

19. Plant   and   machinery   safety?   [NAG   5;;   Health   and   Safety   in   Employment   Act  1992].

20. Civil   defence   preparedness?   [National   Civil   Defence   Emergency     Plan   Order  2005;;  Good  practice].

21. Management   of   crisis   situations   including   pandemic   planning?   [NAG   5;;   Good  practice].

22. School   trips/education   outside   the   classroom   ␣   risk   management   procedures?  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice  -­  EOTC  Guidelines].

23. Visitors  to  the  school?  [Good  practice].

24. Care   and   safety   of   students   in   hostels   under   the   Education   (Hostels)   Regulations  2005,  and  off  site  facilities?                                      [Write  N/A  if  not   applicable].

25. Has   the   board   regularly   reviewed   the   policies   and   procedures/guidelines/practices  linked  to  health  and  safety  in  questions  1- 24  above,  and   Satisfied   itself,   through   reports   that   these   policies   and   procedures/guidelines/practices   have   been   implemented   appropriately?   [Good  practice]

Does the board:

26. Meet  the  requirements  under  NAG  5:  to  promote  healthy  food  and  nutrition  for  all  students?

27(a). Through   the   principal   and   teaching   staff,   currently   provide   anti-­ bullying  programmes  for  students?  and     Safe School****

27(b)(i) Do  those  anti-­bullying  programmes  include  a  focus  on racist  bullying?  Safe School****

27(b)(ii) Do  those  anti-­bullying  programmes  include  a  focus  on bullying  of  students  with  special  needs? Safe School****

27(b)(iii) Do  those  anti-­bullying  programmes  include  a  focus  on homophobic  bullying? Safe School****

27(b)(iv) Do  those  anti-­bullying  programmes  include  a  focus  on Sexual  harassment?  [NAG  5;;  Good  practice]. Safe School****

***Don to make v brief amendments to Safe School statement to cover these points above??

Has the board:

28. Satisfied   itself,   through   reports   from   hostel   management,   that   the   hostel   provides   a   safe   emotional   and   physical   environment   that   supports   the   learning   of   boarders   enrolled   at   the   school?                   [NAG   5;;   Education   (Hostels)  Regulations  2005].

29. Ensured   policies   and   procedures   that   relate   to   students   who   have   special   education  needs  are  implemented  without  discrimination,  i.e.  they  are:

yes

29(a). Objective,   value   diversity   and   are   integrated   within   the   school   curriculum;

29(a). Objective,   value   diversity   and   are   integrated   within   the   school   curriculum;

29(b). Regularly  re-­evaluated  and  developed  to  enhance  effectiveness;;

29(c). Well-­communicated  to  all  staff  and  families,  whänau  of  students  and   consistently  applied;

29(d). In   compliance   with   the   Education   Act   1989   (section   8)   and   the   NZ   Bill   of   Rights   Act   (section   19),   the   Human   Rights   Act   1993   (section   21),   the   National   Education   Guidelines,   National   Administration   Guidelines,   National   Education   Goals,   Curriculum   Statements,   Foundation   Curriculum   Policy   Statements   and   Special   Education   Guidelines.

30. Documented   and   implemented   policies   and   procedures   to   ensure   compliance   with   the   Code   of   Practice   for   the   Pastoral   Care   of   International  Students?  [Write  N/A  if  not  applicable].

31. As  signatory  to  the  Code  of  Practice  for  the  Pastoral  Care  of  International   Students,  ensured  that  it  is  complying  with  the  Code  particularly  in  terms   of:

31(a). Student  welfare: Support  services  for  students - Information  on  international  students - Communicating  with  parents  for  students  under  18  years - Students  with  additional  needs - Monitoring  attendance  to  ensure  student  welfare

31(b). Accommodation: Accommodation  Provisions - Homestays - Boarding  Establishments - Designated  caregivers - Temporary  accommodation - Residential  caregivers - Police  vetting  of  accommodation  for  students  under  18 - Complaints  procedures

Comments/Further Action

Section 4 - Personnel

Good  practice  or  legal  compliance  suggests  that  the  board  should  have:

1. Developed   and   implemented   personnel   management   policies   and/or   procedures   to   meet   good   employer   obligations??     [NAG  3;;s  77A  State  Sector  Act].

2. Developed   and   implemented   policies   and   procedures   for   employment   and  appraisal  of  staff?  [s  77C  State  Sector  Act  1988;;  NZ  Gazette    and   relevant    Collective  Employment  Agreement].

3. Annually   assessed   the   principal   against   all   the   professional   standards   for  principals?  [NZ  Ed  Gazette:    and  relevant  employment  agreement].

4(a). Kept   all   records   for   the   purposes   of   the   payroll   service   and   given   the   Secretary   for   Education   all   information   in   accordance   with   section  89  of  the  Education  Act?

4(b). Complied   with   section   91F   of   the   Education   Act   and   the   relevant Principal's Collective Agreement (i.e. sought the written consent of   the   Secretary   for   Education)   before   paying   any   additional   remuneration  to  the  principal?

5. Ensured   that   persons   without   a   practising   certificate   are   not   permanently   appointed   to   a   teaching   position?   [section   120A(2)   Education  Act  1989].

6. Ensured   that   it   does   not   continue   to   employ   in   any   teaching   position,   any  person (i) whose  registration  as  a  teacher  has  been  cancelled;  and (ii)  who  has  not  since  been  registered  as  a  teacher  again;  or (iii)  any  person  whose  LAT  has  been  cancelled,  and  who  has  not   since- (iv) been  granted  an  authorisation  again; or  (v) been  registered  as  a  teacher?   [Section  120B(1)  Education  Act  1989].

7. Received   [regular] reports   at   least   once   a   year   in   relation   to   the   following,   and   satisfied  itself  that  they  are  correctly  implemented:

yes

7(a). Staff   appointment   process?   [Good   practice   re   s   77E-­77H   State   Sector   Act  1988].

7(b). Teacher   registration   (including   practising   certificates   and   LATs)?   [Good  practice  re  ss  120-­120B  Ed  Act  1989].

7(c). Provisionally   registered   teachers   induction   programme?                 [Good   practice].

7(d). Assessment   of   teachers   against   the   professional   standards?   [Good   practice   re   s   77C   State   Sector   Act   1988:   NZ   Gazette   and   relevant   Collective  Employment  Agreement  ].

7(e). Salary   increments   as   a   result   of   a   positive   assessment   against  all professional standards at the teacher's level? [Good practice; relevant Teachers' Collective Employment Agreement].

7(f). Staff   professional   development   programme   and   outcomes?         [Good   practice].

7(g) Personnel policy (including EEO programme)?   [Good   practice   re   s   77A  State  Sector  Act  1988].

8. Established  and  implemented  procedures  for  the  police  vetting  of  employees   and   contractors   as   required   by   the   Education   Act   1989   Sections   78C   to   78CD  (or  subsequent  amendments  to  the  Act)?

9. Reported   in   its   annual   report   on   the   extent   of   its   compliance   with   the   personnel   policy   on   being   a   good   employer   (including   the   equal   employment  opportunities  programme)?  [s  77A  State  Sector  Act  1988]

10. As   employer,   reported   to   the   Teachers   Council   in   compliance   with   the   mandatory   reporting   requirements   under   the   Education   Act   1989   in   the   following  situations:[Write  N/A  if  not  applicable].

10(a). when   a   teacher   has   been   dismissed   for   any   reason   (section   139AK)?

10(b). when   a   teacher   resigns,   if   within   the   previous   12   months,   the   board   had   advised   the   teacher   that   it   was   dissatisfied   with,   or   intended   to   investigate,   any   aspect   of   the   conduct   of   the   teacher or the teacher's competence (section 139AK)?

10(c). the board receives a complaint about the teacher's conduct or competence   while   he/she   was   an   employee   within   12   months   of   the  teacher  leaving  (section  139AL)?

10(d). the   board   has   reason   to   believe   that   the   teacher   has   engaged   in   serious  misconduct  (section  139AM)?

10(e) the   board   is   satisfied   that   despite   undertaking   competency   procedures   with   the   teacher,   the   teacher   has   not   reached   the   required  level  of  competence  (section  139AN)?

11. Implemented   appropriate   internal   procedures   for   receiving   and   dealing   with   information   about   serious   wrongdoing   under   the   Protected   Disclosures  Act  2000?

Comment/Further Action

Section 5 - Finance

Boards should have procedures to track and report income and expenditure. As  part  of  this  process,  has  the  board:

1. Monitored  and  controlled  school  expenditure?  and     Ensured  that  annual  accounts  are  prepared  and  audited  as  required  by   the  Public  Finance  Act  1989  and  Education  Act  1989?[NAG  4].

2(a) Made  it  clear  in  a  written  statement  to  parents  of  students  that:  (a) parents   may   be   asked   for   a   voluntary   donation   towards   general   school   activities   but   they   do   not   have   to   pay   this?   [Good  practice  re  s  3  Ed  Act  1989];;  and

4. Ensured  that  accounting  records  are  kept  that:

yes

4(a) correctly  record  and  explain  the  transactions  of  the  school?

4(b). will,   at   any   time,   enable   the   financial   position   of   the   school   to  be  determined  with  reasonable  accuracy?

4(c). will  enable  the  trustees  to  ensure  that  the  financial  statements   of   the   school   comply   with   generally   accepted   accounting   practice?

4(c). will  enable  the  trustees  to  ensure  that  the  financial  statements   of   the   school   comply   with   generally   accepted   accounting   practice?

5. Prepared  annual  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  section  87(3)   of  the  Education  Act  1989?

6(a) Prepared   its   annual   report   in   accordance   with   section   87   of   the   Education  Act  1989  (which  includes  the  total  remuneration  paid   to  school  principals  employed  by  the  board)?;;  and

6(b). Forwarded   its   annual   report   to   the   Secretary   of   Education?     [s  87  Ed  Act  1989].

7. Ensured  investment  is  in  accordance  with  section  73  of  the  Education   Act  1989  and  appropriate  provisions  of  the  Crown  Entities  Act  2004   relating  to  investments?  [ss  160-­161,  197  Crown  Entities  Act  2004].

8. Ensured  that  all  financial  gifts  can  be  appropriately  accounted  for  and   applied  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  given?                                                             [s  68  Ed  Act  1989;;  s  168  Crown  Entities  Act].

9. Ensured   that   it   has   complied   with   section   67   of   the   Education   Act   1989,   and   appropriate   provisions   of   the   Crown   Entities   Act   2004   relating   to   borrowing?   [s   160   Crown   Entities   Act   2004;;   Regs   11,   12   Crown  Entities  (Financial  Powers)  Regulations  2005].

10. Ensured  that  TFEA  funding  is  used  to  promote  student  achievement?   [Operational  Funding:  MOE  Handbook].

11. Ensured  that  SEG  funding  is  used  to  benefit  students  with  moderate   special  learning  and  behavioural  needs?                                                             [Operational  Funding:  MOE  Handbook].

12. Ensured   that   funding   and   staffing   generated   by   ORRS   students   is   used  for  the  benefit  of  those  students?  [Write  N/A  if  not  applicable]   [Operational  Funding:  MOE  Handbook].

Comments/Further Action

Section 6 - Asset Management

ERO wants to know that the board has taken all reasonable steps to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. As  part  of  this  process,  has  the  board:

1. Implemented   a   maintenance   programme   and   property   management   policy  to  ensure  that  the  school's buildings and facilities provide a safe, healthy   learning   environment   for   students?   [NAG   4(c);;   cl   5     Property   Occupancy  Document].

2. Confirmed that the budget reflects the school's priorities as stated in the charter? [NAG 4; Property Occupancy Document]

3. Provided  access  and  facilities  for  persons  with  disabilities  to  and  within   buildings?  [ss  117-­120  and  Schedule  2  of  Building  Act  2004].

4. Received monthly reports  on  monitoring,  maintenance  and  hazards,  and   is   the   board   satisfied   with   compliance   ?   [Good   practice   re   Health   and   Safety  in  Employment  Act  1992;;  cl  15  Property  Occupancy  Document].

5. Recently  reviewed  its  evacuation  policy  and  procedures  and  is  the  board   satisfied   with   compliance?   [Good   practice   re   Fire   Safety   and   Evacuation  of  Building  Regulations  2006].

6. Received  assurance  at intervals of not more that six months,  that  a  trial   evacuation  has  occurred?  [Good  practice  re  Fire  Safety  and  Evacuation   of  Building  Regulations  2006].

7. Made  provision  for  post  disaster  and  relief?  [Good  practice]. ***Don to add v brief statement somewhere

8. Checked   the   swimming   pool   meets   the   criteria   listed   in   the   Schedule   to   the  Fencing  of  Swimming  Pools  Act  1987?  [Write  N/A  if  not  applicable].

9.Prepared  and  reviewed  a  10-­year  property  plan  covering  maintenance  and   capital   property   requirements   in   accordance   with   Ministry   of   Education   guidelines?  [cl  5  Property  Occupancy  Document].

Comments/Further Action