2024

December

Content updates

• Following the scheduled review of the Employment Policy section during terms 2, and 3, updates were published to school sites. These changes aligned content more closely with Education and Training Act 2020 and Employment Relations Act 2000 requirements, and clarified collective agreement requirements for schools.

November

Content updates

• As a result of internal review, we updated Academic Authenticity (for secondary and composite schools only), Generative AI, and International Learner Concerns and Complaints.

October

Platform update

• We’ve moved information about using your SchoolDocs site to the top of the table of contents. The Using this site section contains information about the current review, links to key policies for your school community, and a summary of key changes on SchoolDocs over the past year.

September

Content updates

• Following scheduled review, we updated content in the Governance and Management Policy, School Community Engagement Policy, and Special Character sections.
  • In the Governance and Management Policy section, we strengthened information about the legislative requirements of the principal and board, and showed how these responsibilities related to other policies on SchoolDocs.
  • In the School Community Engagement Policy section (previously Parents and Whānau), we moved related policies into this area and included more information about requirements for engaging with the school community.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi policy was also updated following scheduled review. Updates were developed in consultation with Janelle Riki-Waaka (Tainui Awhiro, Ngāti Hauiti), Kaihautū of Riki Consultancy Ltd. As a result of this update, there will be two policy options for schools. Schools can use a SchoolDocs policy and can provide school-specific Te Tiriti o Waitangi information, or link to their own Te Tiriti o Waitangi policy.

July

Content updates

• Following review and legal consultation, we updated Concerns and Complaints Policy (and subtopics), Inclusive School Culture (previously Inclusive Education), Bullying and Harassment (and subtopics).
• As a result of internal review, we updated Attendance Procedures and related topics to align with current Ministry of Education resources for schools.

Platform update

• SchoolDocs now offers an option to all schools to incorporate specific kupu Māori (within existing sentence structure) into core policies. Schools that would like to make this change are advised to consult with the board about this decision as this affects all policies and procedures.

June

Content updates

• Following scheduled review and legal consultation, we updated Official Information, Copyright and Creative Commons policies.
• Initial updates were made to Curriculum and Student Achievement Policy by the start of term 2 to meet regulatory requirements. Final updates to this section were completed by the end of the term.
• As a result of internal review, we updated information about convening a meeting of the board for suspensions in Stand-down, Suspension, and Exclusion Procedures.

May

Content updates

• Schools reviewed Curriculum and Student Achievement Policy and topics within this section in term 4, 2023. Initial updates were made during term 1, 2024 to meet regulatory requirements about teaching one hour a day of reading, writing, and maths; or pānui, tuhituhi, and pāngarau. Further updates to this section were published during term 2.
• Following scheduled review and legal consultation, we updated topics in the Privacy section:
  • Privacy
  • Personal Information
  • Personal Information Access and Correction Process
  • Sharing Student Personal Information with Parents and Guardians
  • Sharing Student Personal Information with External Agencies
  • Public Sharing of Personal Information
  • Recording Photos, Video, and Sound
  • Camera Surveillance Policy

April

Content updates

• We updated Cellphones and Other Personal Digital Devices to reflect cellphone regulations that are mandatory for term 2.
• Following internal review of safety checking and police vetting requirements, we updated the following policies:
  • Safety Checking
  • Police Vetting
  • Teacher Registration and Certification
  • Contractors Working at School
  • Student Teachers
  • Referee and Background Checks
  • Visitors

Resource updates

• We updated the 2024 Review Schedule and Board Assurances to align with scheduled and internal review updates that have been published to school sites. Assurances have been updated for the following topics:
  • Curriculum and Student Achievement Policy
  • Cellphones and Other Personal Digital Devices
  • Teacher Registration and Certification
• We have also updated the About the review process resource linked from the review tool that is available to anyone submitting a review.

March

Content update

• We added information about one hour a day requirements to Curriculum and Student Achievement Policy for schools with year 0-8 students.

February

Content updates

• We made significant updates to Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) information in consultation with EONZ to reflect updates to the Safety Management Plan (SMP) template and EOTC Toolkit forms.
• Following scheduled review, we updated Learning Support topics, introducing two new subtopics; Identifying Learning Support Needs and Providing Learning Support.
• We updated Māori Educational Achievement, including updating the version of the topic for specified kura.

Resource update

• We updated our Quick Guide to SchoolDocs and Review Information resources that are available to the school principal and board.

January

Content updates

• We updated School Planning and Reporting to reflect the Ministry of Education's new planning and reporting framework, Te Whakangārahu Ngātahi | Planning Together for Ākonga Success.
• We created a new Conflicts of Interest topic focusing on non-financial conflicts to differentiate this from the existing Financial Conflicts of Interest topic.
• As a result of consultation with external financial advisors, we updated topics in the Finance and Asset Management Policy section to ensure content was up to date with good practice and legislative requirements before the 2024 scheduled review.