Internal review updates – Term 3, 2023

Alcohol at School and School Events

• Clarified the sentence about host responsibility for school events off school property.

Alcohol at School and School Events (None at School)

• Clarified the introductory wording and updated the topic title.
• Added a new section to cover information about the school's process for allowing alcohol at off-site events organised by the school.

Staff Leave

• Updated to ensure content is up to date with employment agreements and COVID-19-related leave conditions.
• Updated default leave application form.

COVID-19 Health Measures

• Updated to reflect the removal of COVID-19 requirements.
• Topic moved out out of the Emergency, Disaster, and Crisis Management section and in to the Healthcare section as a subtopic of Infectious Diseases.

Infectious Diseases

• Removed information about COVID-19 measures.
• Removed the conditions listed under "serious illness/infection" as this topic directs to exclusion periods recommended by the Ministry of Health.
• Reformatted and clarified information about exclusion periods.

Firearms

• Released an updated version of Firearms Policy Guidelines.

Catholic Appointment Committee

(Catholic schools only)

• Clarified the requirement for a proprietor's appointees to be on the appointment committees for special character and teaching positions.
• Added acceptability criteria that may be considered by the proprietor.

Use of Drones

• Updated content to reflect the Civil Aviation Act 2023 and clarified requirements of Parts 101 and 102 of the Civil Aviation Rules.
• Changed the start of this topic so the type of drone activities the board approves can be made school-specific.
• Clarified the role of the board as the PCBU, health and safety responsibilities, and risk management procedures.
• Removed information about drone insurance and added wording about consent requirements.
• Clarified privacy requirements, and updated previously optional wording about seeking consent.

Drones Not Allowed

• Updated the title of this topic to show that drones are not allowed.
• Updated content to reflect the Civil Aviation Act 2023.
• Clarified the role of the board as the PCBU.

Minimising Physical Restraint

• Updated the Reporting physical restraint section in consultation with the Ministry of Education to clarify requirements.

Primary Duty of Care

• Clarified the board's primary duty of care and how this is supported by other policies and procedures.
• Summarised board responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Employer Responsibility Policy

• Updated the wording about recruitment and appointments: The board may delegate the recruitment and appointment process to the principal and senior management, and may be represented in appointment committees. For the specific make up of appointment committees according to positions, see Appointment Committees.

Equal Employment Opportunities

• Clarified legislative requirements and described how this relates to the principle of being a good employer.
• Clarified the difference between an EEO policy and an EEO programme.
• Added information about an EEO representative.

Application Package

• Reworded information about EEO data collection in this topic.

Professional Development

• Added this previously optional topic to all school sites.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy

• Added sections about the wellbeing approach to alcohol and drugs, policy requirements, school expectations, and breaches.
• Clarified the policy requirements and information for students and staff, and added content about self-disclosures by staff and students.

Staff Breaches of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy

• Clarified the processes for managing possible breaches and known breaches, and the connection to formal complaint and serious allegation procedures.
• Removed the section about alcohol and drug testing from this policy following legal review.
• Highlighted that schools are not obliged to offer support and rehabilitation but are guided by the Teaching Council, and any legal rulings.
• Added a section about recording concerns and breaches.

Student Breaches of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Harmful Substances Policy

• Clarified the process for responding to breaches, and how the process aligns with student wellbeing and pastoral care, surrender and retention, physical restraint, and privacy.
• Added a section about responding to an incident that takes place at school.
• Added a section about recording concerns and breaches.

Fundraising

• Updated "liquor" to "alcohol" in the bullet point about prizes for gambling activities.

Medicines

• Added this statement to the introduction: "We ask that students taking medicine that might cause impairment disclose this so we can support the student and ensure everyone's safety. Our Privacy Guidelines apply at all times."

Before and After School Supervision

• Changed the introduction to remove reference to active supervision before and after school.

Third-Party Use of School Property

• To clarify that sleepovers have special arrangements, added: "For conditions around overnight use of school property, see Sleepovers at School."

Planning and Preparing for Emergencies, Disasters, and Crises

Emergency Kits and Supplies

Self-Review and Board Assurances

• Changed references to "kit(s)" to "supplies", to cover schools that don't have kits.

Flexible Working Arrangements

• Updated the dropdown about grounds for refusal to include potential impact on student learning outcomes.

Stand-Downs, Suspensions, and Exclusions (and Expulsions)

• Updated a sentence to put more emphasis on the board's requirement to consider every statutory option available to them.