2017 Amendments to Government and Non-Government school registration manuals (Jul 2017)

The Registration Process for the NSW Government Schooling System Manual, the Registered and Accredited Individual Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual and the Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual (‘the Manuals’) have been amended.

The amendments relate to the regulatory focus on the quality of student learning for all NSW schools and schooling systems.

The Education Act 1990 states that the quality of student learning includes, but is not limited to, the following matters:

• the standard of teaching of courses of study provided at the school
• student engagement in learning at the school
• any matters identified in a risk assessment conducted by NESA in relation to the school.

These matters are most relevant to the registration requirements for teaching staff, curriculum, facilities and student welfare, in particular student attendance.

The amended Manuals relate to these requirements and specify the evidence of compliance to be maintained by schools.

The amendments apply to:

• section 4 of the Manual for the government schooling system
• sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Manual for individual non-government schools
• sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Manual for systemic non-government schools.  

The amended Manuals take effect with the publication of this Official Notice.

The relevant provisions of the amended Manuals will be the basis of inspections of schools selected randomly in relation to ‘Strand B – Quality of Student Learning’ in Terms 3 and 4, 2017. Official Notice 26/17 provides more information about these inspections.

The evidentiary requirements for the quality of student learning in the Manuals are transitional and will be subject to further consultation with key stakeholders prior to the end of Term 4, 2017. This will allow for any refinements to be published prior to full implementation for all schools on the 2018 school inspection program. Please note that the web versions of the Manuals are the most up-to-date Manuals at any time.

 To view the amendments in tracked changes format see tracked changes for the government schooling system Manual and tracked changes for the non-government school Manuals.

For more information, contact:
Anita Yates
Senior Inspector, School Registration and Accreditation Standards
anita.yates@nesa.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8214