2025

December

Content updates

• Following the passing of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025, we removed references to the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) from all core policies, and updated a number of policies to align with the new legal and regulatory requirements. Updated policies with major changes were:
  • Governance and Management Policy
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • School Planning and Reporting
  • Inclusive School Culture
  • Student Attendance
  • Curriculum and Student Achievement Policy
  • Assessing Student Learning
  • Reporting about Student Progress and Achievement
  • Māori Educational Achievement

November

Content updates

• As a result of internal review, we updated the following policies:
  • Infectious Diseases
  • International Learner Policy
  • Firearms

October

Content updates

• We completed updates to the Finance and Asset Management Policy section.
• Following scheduled review, we updated the Health and Safety Management and Health Support sections of SchoolDocs sites.
• Following updates from the Ministry of Education about generative AI, we updated the Generative AI policy and added it to all secondary and composite school sites. It remains an optional policy for primary and intermediate schools.

August

Content updates

• Following scheduled review, most updates to the Finance and Asset Management Policy section have been published to school sites, with the remainder to be completed by the end of term 3.
• We added a note at the top of Student Attendance and Attendance Procedures to show that this is a transition period. Updates and links to attendance management plans will be published to sites before term 1, 2026.
• As a result of internal review, we updated International Learner Concerns and Complaints.

June

Content updates

• We updated our guidance for Attendance Procedures to show how schools can integrate the STAR framework into their existing attendance policies.
• We updated Communicating with Parents and Whānau to clarify how queries and concerns should be raised.
• To ensure policy was up to date with the Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024, we updated Opening and Closing the School (previously School Year, Terms, and Holidays).
• We also updated a number of policies in the International Learners section, which is part of ongoing updates to the section throughout 2025 to ensure policies are as robust as possible and up to date with good practice, regulations, and legislation. The following policies were updated:
  • International Learners Policy
  • International Marketing and Promotion
  • International Education Agents
  • International Offers, Enrolment, Contracts, and Insurance
  • International Offers
  • International Enrolment
  • International Learner Fees
  • International Learner Insurance
  • International Learner Immigration Matters

April

Content updates

• As a result of internal review, we updated the following policies:
  • Governance and Management Policy
  • School Records Retention and Disposal
  • Generative AI (optional)
  • Getting to and from School Safely

March

Content update

• During 2024, schools reviewed the Concerns and Complaints Policy, Personal Grievance, and Protected Disclosure sections of SchoolDocs. New versions of these policies were delayed by legal review and updates were published to school sites during term 1.

Platform update

• We have a new Model site landing page available to the principal and board from the SchoolDocs Dashboard.

February

Content updates

• As a result of internal review, we made the following updates:
  • Minimising Physical Restraint was updated to comply with changes to physical restraint rules and guidelines.
  • Classroom Release Time and Timetable policies were updated to meet collective agreement requirements for 2025.
  • Attendance Procedures was updated to add a statement about daily reporting of attendance data, as required from 2025 under the Education and Training Act 2020 and Education (School Attendance) Regulations 2024.
  • Performance Management and the Review Schedule and Board Assurances page were updated to align with ERO Board Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists.

January

Content updates

• Following scheduled review during terms 2 and 3, updates to the Employment Policy section were completed by the end of 2024 and published to school sites for the start of 2025.
• As a result of internal review, we updated the following policies:
  • School Records Retention and Disposal
  • Sharing Student Personal Information with Parents and Guardians
  • Food and Nutrition
  • EOTC Event Planning and Approval
  • EOTC Risk Assessment and Management
  • EOTC External Providers and Contractors

Resource update

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