Process leading to refusal, non-renewal or cancellation of accreditation of a non-government school
The Education Act 1990 provides for the provisional accreditation of a school where NESA is not satisfied that the school meets the requirements of the Act relating to the Record of School Achievement and/or Higher School Certificate.
Inspectors consider any documentation provided by the school and observations at an inspection visit in order to form opinions about compliance with the requirements of the Act relating to accreditation for the Record of School Achievement and/or the Higher School Certificate. When it is an Inspector's judgement that a new or established school has been unable to demonstrate compliance with the requirements, the Inspector will discuss these concerns with the proprietor and principal (or equivalent) and provide an opportunity for the school to provide further evidence of compliance.
If, following consideration of any further evidence of compliance the school provides, the Inspector has formed the judgement that the school does not comply with requirements of the Education Act in relation to accreditation for the Record of School Achievement and/or the Higher School Certificate, the Inspector will prepare a report that includes advice that the application for initial accreditation or renewal of accreditation of the school be refused or the accreditation of the school be cancelled.
If the Inspector advises refusal or cancellation of the accreditation of the school, the proprietor and principal (or equivalent) of the school will be given written notice detailing those accreditation requirements with which, in the opinion of the Inspector, the school does not comply. The proprietor and principal (or equivalent) will be given the opportunity to make written comment to the Registration Committee regarding the Inspector's advice.
If, following consideration of the Inspector's report and advice and the comments of the school's proprietor and principal (or equivalent), the Registration Committee is satisfied that the requirements of the Education Act in relation to accreditation are not being complied with, the Registration Committee will notify the proprietor and principal (or equivalent) of the school that it intends to recommend the refusal of the application for initial, or renewal of, accreditation of the school or to recommend accreditation be cancelled.
The proprietor and principal (or equivalent) of the school may make an appeal against the recommendation of the Registration Committee.
If the accreditation of a school is cancelled or the renewal of accreditation is refused, parents of students at the school must be notified in writing that the school is not accredited. Parents must also be informed of the consequences of the school not being accredited for students currently enrolled at the school.