School Community Engagement Policy
At St Joseph's School, we engage with our 
school community to support the successful operation of the school and improve student outcomes. This includes seeking to understand the identities, needs, and aspirations of our school community and any barriers to engagement, providing opportunities for our school community to give feedback about school operations, and building strong relationships with the Māori community associated with our school. In support of the Education and Training Act 2020 and other relevant legislation and regulations, the board consults with the school community about key decisions that may affect our school, staff, students, and their whānau.
The Education and Training Act 2020 (s 10) defines the school community as:
- the parents, families, and whānau of the school's students
- the Māori community associated with the school
- any other person, or group of persons, who the board or a sponsor considers is part of the school community for the purposes of the relevant provision.
When we engage with our school community, we ensure we have considered any legislative requirements and school policies and procedures, including:
We follow our school privacy and records retention policies when engaging with our school community. See Privacy Policy and School Records Retention and Disposal.
Board requirements to consult with our school community
The board is legally required to consult with the school community in certain circumstances. When consultation is required, the board plans the consultation process and communicates this to the school community.
Our consultation plan may include:
- the purpose of the consultation
- identifying the group(s) requiring greater focus in the consultation process as they may be affected more by the proposed change
- the methods that will be used to consult with each identified group
- the questions that will be asked
- how the information collected will be shared with the school community (including when it will be shared)
- how the information provided by the school community will be handled (e.g. where it will be stored, who has access, how long it will be kept, when it will be destroyed).
Education and Training Act 2020
The board consults with the school community:
- when preparing our strategic plan (s 139)
- when developing additional criteria relating to appointment of principals (s 618)
- at least every two years before adopting a statement on the delivery of the health curriculum (s 91)
- before developing or reviewing a bylaw (s 126)
- before adopting or revoking a cohort entry policy for new entrants.
A school rule made by the school board is a bylaw. Under the Education and Training Act 2020 (s 126), boards are required to consult with staff, students (as appropriate), and the school community when making or amending rules/bylaws, if the rule is:
- made by the board, principal, or other staff member with delegated authority from the board and
- enforced with full compliance in the school, with disciplinary and/or negative consequences for breaching this rule.
School rules that relate to the legal rights of students also require consultation.
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga: Making and amending school rules (bylaws) 
Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024
The board consults with the school community:
- in situations where the time the school is open for instruction may vary (s 7)
- in situations when the school is proposing multiple timetables to allow students enrolled at a different school to use school facilities for a period of time (s 10).
Related policies
Legislation
- Education and Training Act 2020
- Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024
Resources
Term 4 2025, Term 3 2024
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