Stand downs: Action by principal following a decision to stand down

1. Confirm decision

A decision to stand down a student has been made.

2. Check stand down history

Determine whether the student has been stood down for

• 5 school days this term, or
• 10 school days this year.

Check with the student’s previous school and/or the Ministry of Education.

If YES

Further stand down is not possible this term. You must either:

• take alternative action – record your decision and actions, or
• suspend the student – See Flowchart 3.

If NO

Stand down student for an appropriate period that will not bring total school days stood down to more than 5 this term or 10 this year. Record your decision.

Immediately contact parents and advise:

• that the student has been stood down
• the reasons for standing down
• the period of the stand down

Follow up with Letter 1 and the information sheet.

Immediately notify the Ministry of Education using the advice of stand down form in ENROL: 

• that the student has been stood down
• of reasons for stand down
• of period of stand down.

Make sure you:

• have called for or checked whether the parent of the student asked for a meeting. Has this been arranged to discuss the issues?
• have put in place reasonable and practicable guidance and counselling for student (keep a record of this)
• allowed the student to attend school if the parent's request is reasonable.

See Rules 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in the legislative guide for clarification.