Initial accreditation for member schools
Provisional accrediation applies to new schools and established schools who are newly approved for accreditation in their first year of accreditation. This first period of accreditation is initial accreditation.
Newly accredited non-government schools must meet the requirements of the Education Act upon commencement of operation.
In deciding whether the requirements of the Education Act are being complied with in relation to a registered non-government school, NESA will have regard to matters relating to the quality of student learning. Under the Education Act, such matters may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- the standard of teaching of courses of study provided at the school having regard to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers as provided by the TA Act,
- student engagement in learning at the school,
- any matters identified in a risk assessment conducted by NESA in relation to the school.
It may not be possible for a proposed new school to provide evidence of compliance with all sections of the Education Act relating to the RoSA and/or HSC prior to commencement. It is expected, however, that the applicant will provide evidence of policies and procedures that will ensure compliance of the school with the requirements of the Education Act should the application be successful. If the application for initial accreditation is successful, the new school is required to meet all the accreditation requirements and must, throughout its period of initial accreditation maintain evidence of compliance with those requirements.
Based on the accreditation requirements described in section 7 of the Manual, the following evidence of capacity to comply is required for proposed new schools or established registered schools seeking initial accreditation to be considered for initial accreditation (RoSA, HSC, quality of the educational program).
Any difference in the description of initial accreditation requirements in this section and those for accreditation is only intended to take account of the fact that compliance with some requirements cannot be demonstrated until the school begins to operate as an accredited school. On commencing operation, the requirements in section 7 apply.