Principal obligations for when the suspension is extended with conditions#

'Principal' includes someone who is formally delegated in writing by the board, to act as the principal in your absence. Such delegation can only take effect when the principal is not on duty.

Keep the student on the school roll#

The student must remain on your school roll. They may only be removed if they:

• enrol at another school
• are granted an exemption from enrolment or
• leave the school system altogether (if over 16).

Provide an educational outcome#

You must take all reasonable steps to ensure that an appropriate educational programme is provided to the student. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate the return of the student to school and to minimise the educational disadvantages that occur from absence from school.

Consider guidance and counselling#

As soon as practicable, you must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the student gets guidance and counselling that are reasonable and practicable in all the circumstances.

To help you do this, consider that one of the aims of the suspension process is to “minimise the disruption to a student’s attendance at school and facilitate the return of the student to school when that is appropriate.”

Consider attendance during an extended suspension#

The student may attend school if the student or parent asks you to allow that for whatever reason; and you consider that the request is reasonable.

The student must attend school if you consider that it is appropriate because either:

• the student’s educational programme requires it (the student might need to fulfil course requirements for a qualification or sit an examination)
• the student needs to receive guidance and counselling.

Otherwise, the student must not attend.

Monitor the student's progress#

You must take steps to ensure that the student’s progress is monitored when conditions have been set. The purpose of the conditions is to assist and support the student to return to school.

If an extended suspension is for four weeks or more a report will need to be provided to the board at each regular board meeting. This report must comment on whether the student is meeting the conditions imposed and how they are progressing with the education programme you are providing for them.

You must allow the student to return to school once either they have met the conditions set by the board or the extended suspension expires (whichever occurs first).

Principal and board obligations for when the suspension is extended with conditions#

Tell a parent#

You must tell the student’s parent that the suspension has been extended with conditions and the reasons for the board decision. (Unless the student has turned 20.)

To help you do this, you may wish to use the model letter 3 template, 'Notifying parent/s or caregivers of outcome of suspension meeting'.

Model template letters

You may also consider calling a parent.

Tell the Ministry of Education#

Once the period of extended suspension has ended and the student has returned to school you must submit the “notification following extended suspension or following exclusion” electronic form in ENROL.

Help the student return to school#

The student remains the responsibility of the board while suspended.

The student may only be removed from the school roll if they enrol at another school, are granted an exemption from enrolment; or leave the school system altogether (if over 16).

You must take appropriate steps to help the student return to school. What those steps are will depend on the particular situation. This is an obligation of the board, rather than individual members, and it is expected that in most cases your staff will carry out the required steps on your behalf.