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Ministry of Education New Zealand
CONTENTS
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Important

  • The decision to exclude or expel a student is only to be made in circumstances that justify the most serious response.

Understanding exclusion#

This means the student (under 16) must not attend your school (unless permitted by the principal).

This is the most serious response. An exclusion means that the suspension is extended, and the student is required to be enrolled at another school.1

During the exclusion, the principal must provide appropriate guidance and counselling for the student and an appropriate educational programme for the student to minimise the educational disadvantages that occur due to absence from school.2

  • The principal must try to arrange for the student to attend another reasonably convenient school.
  • The board may refuse to re-enrol the student (unless the Ministry of Education lifts the exclusion).
  • The board of any other state school may refuse to enrol the student (unless the Ministry of Education directs that school3 to enrol the student). 

When the student is excluded

  1. Section 81(1)(c) of the Education and Training Act 2020 – Legislation
  2. Section 84 of the Education and Training Act 2020 – Legislation
  3. Unless the school is an integrated school

Understanding expulsion#

  • The student (16 or over) must not attend your school and may be removed from the school roll.
  • The student may try to enrol at another school but does not have to.
  • The board may refuse to re-enrol the student.
  • The board of any other state school may refuse to enrol the student (unless the Ministry of Education directs that school to enrol the student).
  • The Ministry of Education is unable to lift an expulsion.

When the student is expelled