Application to Register an Independent SchoolApplication form – Register an independent school

Associated documents Guidelines to The Minimum Standards and Other Requirements for Registration of Schools Including Those

Offering Senior Secondary Courses (the Guidelines) Application to Register an Independent School – Information sheet

Applications must be submitted in electronic formatSend your application in electronic format (USB) to:

Schools and Senior Secondary UnitVictorian Registration and Qualifications AuthorityGPO Box 2317Melbourne Vic 3001

Or zipped files can be emailed to:vrqa.schools@edumail.vic.gov.au

Supporting documentation You are required to supply supporting documentation and evidence of compliance. An evidence checklist is provided at Part C of this application.To help you meet all documentation and evidence requirements of the application, you will find evidence prompts throughout the application form, as indicated in the table below.

Evidence prompt Indicates that

Please provide documentation is to be included as evidence

Please complete, and include hyperlinked document is to be downloaded, completed, and included in this application

▼ information can be submitted after the closing date, once available, but prior to registration

Electronic files are to be named as per the item number in the evidence checklist, e.g. C.1.4.i_Philosophy.doc

PRIVACY DISCLAIMERThe VRQA requires all the information collected in this application for the purpose of registering schools under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (the Act). Once registered, some information about schools will be made available to the public on the State Register. Information may also be shared with other government organisations if required for their functions, in accordance with the Act. The VRQA is committed to handling all personal information securely in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. To learn more about how the VRQA handles personal information, access the VRQA’s privacy

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 1

statement on the VRQA website.

VRQA Guidelines 2

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 3

Part A – Proposed School InformationA.1 Legal entity (proprietor) details

A.1.1 Legal entity nameInvoices will be addressed in this name

A.1.2 Legal entity contact Full name

Position

A.1.3 Legal entity type ☐ Company limited by guarantee ☐ Company limited by shares

☐ Incorporated entity/association

☐ Unincorporated entity/association

☐ Co-operative ☐ Other please specify

A.1.4 Postal address Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

Telephone

Email

A.1.5 Australian Company Number (ACN)* *If applicable

A.1.6 Australian Business Number (ABN)

A.2 School Details

A.2.1 Proposed school name

A.2.2 Principal’s details ▼ Full name

Email

Telephone

Mobile

A.2.3 School address Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

Telephone

Website

A.2.4 Postal addressif different from above

Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

A.2.5 Addresses of any proposed campuses Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

A.2.6 Include information for each campus Campus Name

Telephone

Email

Website

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A.3 Contact for applicationA.3.1 Contact person Full name

A.3.2 Position

A.3.3 Postal address Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

Telephone

Mobile

Email

A.3.4 Contact for invoicing Full name

Email

A.3.5 Is the new school you are applying to register the result of the amalgamation of two or more registered schools?

☐ Yes ☐ No

Please complete and include:Amalgamating schools’ details

Go to A.4 Affiliation of school

A.4 Affiliation of schoolReligious or other ☐ Yes, please specify: ☐ No

A.5 Type of schoolTick all that apply

*See Information Sheet for details

☐ Primary ☐ Secondary

☐ Co-educational ☐ Single sex ☐ Boys ☐ Girls

☐ Specific purpose* ☐ Specialist*

A.6 Proposed date of commencementDate (day, month, year) DD MM YYYY

A.7 Year levels to be offered ▼Year level Age range of students No. of students

e.g. Year 7 11–13.5 years 17 students

If additional rows are required, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach to this application

Total

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 5

A.8 Senior secondaryA.8.1 Are you proposing or will you

propose to offer the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) in Years 10–12?

☐ Yes ☐ No

Go to A.8.2 Go to A.9

A.8.2A.9

Select appropriate ☐ I intend to offer a limited number of VCE units in Year 10

☐ No. of VCE units to be offered in Year 10

☐ I intend to offer VCAL in Year 10

Program to be offered:

As part of this application, in Years 11 and 12 I intend to deliver a full:

☐ VCE Course

☐ VCAL Course

I intend to amend my registration in a future application to include a full:

☐ VCE Course

☐ VCAL Course

A.9 Existing registrations held by the legal entity (tick all that apply)

☐ RTO Training Organisation Identification (TOId) No:

☐ CRICOS Provider No:

☐ Senior Secondary VCE

☐ Senior Secondary VCAL

☐ Senior Secondary International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Dip)

☐ Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

☐ Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA)

Part B – Governance InformationB.1 Chair of governing body (if applicable) ▼B.1.1 Chair of governing body Full name

B.1.2 Chair’s title

B.1.3 Postal address Street address

Suburb/town Postcode

Telephone

Mobile

Email

Part C – Supporting documentation and evidence of compliance (evidence checklist)All required documentation to be saved to a USB or zipped file for emailFiles over 5GB will not be able to be emailed due to size limitations on file server

C.1 School governance

C.1.1 Democratic principlesPlease provide:

C.1.1.i A statement affirming the school’s adherence to the principles and practice of Australian democracy in programs and teaching.

☐

C.1.2 Structure

Please provide:

C.1.2.i An outline of the governing body’s structure and membership, including details of the experience and expertise of the members of the Board, and the name and registered type of the legal entity (where applicable).

☐

C.1.2.ii The company or association’s constitution or rules of association which outline the structure and legal obligations of the Board of the company or association.

☐

C.1.2.iii The school’s governance charter, outlining the key functions and responsibilities of the school Board.

☐

C.1.2.iv The school’s strategic plan, and the school’s business plan which is certified by a qualified accountant, ensuring that it includes: enrolment estimates and assumptions the estimated socioeconomic status of students and assumptions

underpinning this status estimated state and Commonwealth grant funding five year forecast financial statements a description of any service agreements between the school and

third parties.

☐

C.1.2.v Complete and include the Financial capability assessment.Please save as an Excel spreadsheet, not a PDF.

☐

C.1.3 Probity ▼

Please provide:

C.1.3.i Complete and include a Fit and proper person declaration for each proprietor (if an individual, that person, if the proprietor is a body, each person involved in directing the body), each member of governing body, each person with responsibility in the school governance structure for managing the school or its finances, principal and any other person who by the person’s conduct assumes a position of authority over the governance or management of the school.

☐

C.1.3.ii A summary of the qualifications and experience of each person. ☐C.1.3.iii A list of each person and his/her role, e.g. James Black, Chair of

governing body.☐

C.1.4 Philosophy

Please provide:

C.1.4.i A statement of the school’s philosophy which includes the vision, mission, values and objectives of the school.

☐

C.1.4.ii An outline of where the school has published this policy. ☐C.1.5 Not-for-profit-status

Please provide:

C.1.5.i A copy of the school’s constitution. ☐C.1.5.ii A copy of the constitution of the legal entity or proprietor. ☐C.1.5.iii Complete and include an executed Declaration of a school’s not-for-

profit status . ☐

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C.2 EnrolmentC.2.1 Student enrolment

numbers ▼ Please provide:

C.2.1.i Confirmed enrolment numbers, including names and date of birth for each student.

☐

C.2.2 Enrolment policy Please provide:

C.2.2.i A copy of the school’s enrolment policy which is consistent with all legal requirements, and details of how it will be implemented.

☐

C.2.3 Student enrolment numbers ▼

Please provide:

C.2.3.i The school’s enrolment register. ☐C.2.3.ii The processes and procedures to ensure the enrolment register will be

up-to-date.☐

C.3 Curriculum and student learningC.3.1 Curriculum

framework ▼

Please provide:

* P–10 applicants only

C.3.1.i An explanation of how and when curriculum and teaching practice will be reviewed.

☐

C.3.1.ii An explanation of how appropriate time will be allocated across the eight learning areas.*

☐

C.3.1.iii An outline of how the school will deliver its curriculum, whether through the Australian Curriculum, Victorian Curriculum or other approved curriculum programs, integrated programs or online learning.*

☐

C.3.1.iv A whole school curriculum plan showing how the curriculum will be organised.*

☐

C.3.2 Student learning outcomes

Please provide:

C.3.2.i The school’s documented strategy to plan for and improve student learning outcomes, including statements of: what data, (such as National Assessment Program – Literacy and

Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing, senior secondary, and On Track data) the school will collect to monitor outcomes

how the school will analyse and use data to set goals and targets for outcomes including for students at risk

how the data will be analysed, used and reported.

☐

C.3.3 Monitoring and reporting on student performancePlease provide:

C.3.3.i The school’s assessment and reporting policies and procedures, including how it will meet Commonwealth Government student reporting requirements.

☐

C.4 Student welfareC.4.1 Care, safety, and

welfare of students

Please provide:

The school’s student welfare policies and procedures with respect to: ☐C.4.1.i Child Safe Standards (Ministerial Order No. 870) ☐C.4.1.ii the duty of care owed to students ☐C.4.1.iii student welfare ☐C.4.1.iv bullying and harassment, including cyber bullying ☐C.4.1.v managing complaints or grievances ☐The school’s student safety policies and procedures with respect to the following:

C.4.1.vi that it owes all students a duty of care to take reasonable measures to protect them from risks of injury that should have been reasonably foreseen

☐

C.4.1.vii that it owes a duty to take reasonable care that any student (and other person) on the premises will not be injured or damaged by reason of the state of the premises or of things done or omitted to be done in relation to the state of the premises

☐

C.4.1.viii that it owes a duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent the abuse of a child by an individual associated with the organisation while the child is under the care, supervision or authority of the organisation

☐

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C.4.1.ix that greater measures may need to be taken for younger students or students with disabilities

☐

C.4.1.x proper arrangements for on-site supervision of students ☐C.4.1.xi proper arrangements for supervision of students when engaged in off-

site activities, and which include consideration of the risk of bushfire in the activity location (refer to bushfire section for further details)

☐

C.4.1.xii ensuring the safety and welfare of students learning with an external provider (i.e. when the school contracts with another school, a registered training organisation or an organisation not registered as an education and training provider)

☐

C.4.1.xiii ensuring all staff understand: mandatory reporting the failure to disclose offence the failure to protect offence.

☐

Student care documentation for:

C.4.1.xii arrangements for ill students ☐C.4.1.xiii policy and procedures for distributing medicine ☐C.4.1.xiv a current register of staff trained in first aid (a pro forma is acceptable) ☐C.4.1.xv records of student medical conditions and management (a pro forma is

acceptable)☐

The school’s:

C.4.1.xvi accidents and incidents register ☐C.4.1.xvii first aid policy and procedures ☐C.4.1.xviii internet use policy and procedures ☐C.4.1.xix critical incident plan ☐C.4.1.xx emergency management plan which must be reviewed at least annually

and immediately after any significant incident. This must also be site specific and include guidelines on emergency bushfire management

☐

C.4.1.xxi evidence of how the school communicates policies and procedures on the care, safety and welfare of students to staff, students, parents and the school community

☐

Managing the risk of child abuse:

C.4.1.xxii policies, procedures, measures and practices in accordance with Ministerial Order No. 870 for managing the risk of child abuse

☐

For schools with an enrolled student who has been diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis:

C.4.1.xxviii anaphylaxis management policy containing matters required by Ministerial Order No. 706 and the (associated) Anaphylaxis Guidelines issued but the Department of Education and Training (DET)

☐

C.4.2 Emergency bushfire management

Please provide:

C.4.2.i A schedule for monitoring and removal of materials that may be easily ignited including branches overhanging buildings, debris and rubbish around and under buildings, including gutters, and dry grass and vegetation.

☐

C.4.2.ii Procedures to ensure the safe storage of flammable materials. ☐C.4.2.iii A schedule for regularly monitoring emergency access to buildings and

grounds.☐

Evidence that:

C.4.2.iv the building exits will continuously be kept clear of obstructions ☐C.4.2.v assembly points are designated and have appropriate access to ☐

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 8

emergency equipment

C.4.2.vi there is access to facilities and grounds for emergency vehicles ☐Check your school for inclusion on the Bushfire At-Risk Register:

Step 1 Email bushfires@edumail.vic.gov.au to find out if your school is to be placed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register.

☐

Step 2 If your proposed school is to be placed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register, extra procedures apply. Please refer to the VRQA Guidelines for Bushfire Preparedness - Registered Schools and provide evidence of the school’s compliance with:

Please provide: C.4.2.vii Guideline 2.2 ☐C.4.2.viii Guideline 2.3 ☐C.4.2.ix Guideline 2.4 ☐C.4.2.x Guideline 2.5 ☐C.4.2.xi Guideline 2.8 ☐C.4.2.xii Guideline 2.9 ☐

C.4.3 Discipline

Please provide:

C.4.3.i A policy that explicitly prohibits corporal punishment. ☐C.4.3.ii The school’s behaviour management policy and procedures including

how the policy and procedures ensure procedural fairness.☐

C.4.3.iii An outline of how the school communicates these policies and procedures to the school community.

☐

C.4.4 Attendance monitoring

Please provide:

C.4.4.i The school’s documented procedures to: check daily attendance monitor daily attendance and to identify absences from school or

class follow up unexplained absences notify parents or guardians of unsatisfactory attendance record unsatisfactory attendance on each student’s file.

☐

C.4.5 Attendance register

Please provide:

C.4.5.i A copy of the school’s attendance register for all students for each calendar year. It must show twice daily attendance checks and any reasons for absence.

☐

C.5 Staff employment

C.5.1 Teachers’ requirements

Please provide:

C.5.1.i A statement of intent to maintain a register containing each teacher’s name, academic qualifications and their Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration number and VIT category of registration*, and the expiry and renewal date of the teacher’s registration and any conditions, limitations or restrictions of that regulation or permission to teach.

☐

* Categories: provisional registration, full registration, permission to teach

C.5.1.ii ▼ A register of all teachers containing each teacher’s name, academic qualifications, and their VIT registration number and VIT category of registration*, and the expiry and renewal date of the teacher’s registration and any conditions, limitations or restrictions of that regulation or permission to teach.

☐

C.5.2 Compliance with the Working with Children Act 2005

Please provide:

C.5.2.i Procedures to ensure that all staff required to do so by the Working with Children Act 2005, have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and that the school sites and keeps a copy of the current WWCC card.

☐

C.5.2.ii A register of all non-teaching staff containing each staff member’s name, date of birth, WWCC card number, and the expiry and renewal date of that card.

☐

C.5.2.iii Procedures for maintaining the register. ☐

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C.6 School infrastructureC.6.1 Buildings, facilities,

and grounds Please provide:

C.6.1.i A copy of the permit to operate an education centre on site (in some cases, a certificate of existing rights can be provided in lieu of a planning permit).

☐

C.6.1.ii ▼ A copy of the documentation showing that buildings and facilities comply with local planning regulation and the Building Code of Australia, including a 9B Occupancy Certificate.

☐

C.6.1.iii ▼ A copy of the essential services register. ☐C.6.1.iv A copy of the maintenance schedule for buildings, facilities, and

grounds.☐

C.6.1.v Register a copy of the rental or lease agreements (if applicable). ☐C.6.1.vi A copy of the occupational health and safety policy and procedures. ☐

C.7 Educational facilities

C.7.1 Educational facilitiesPlease provide:

C.7.1 A plan of the school showing the location of facilities available for each program offered across the school day.

☐

C.8 Are you proposing to offer a senior secondary course?

Yes ☐ Go to C.9

No ☐ Go to Part D

C.9 Accredited senior secondary course

C.9.1 Which senior secondary course are you applying to deliver?

☐ VCE

☐ VCAL

☐ IB Dip IB approval

C.9.2 VCE units and/or VCAL strands to be offered

If additional rows are required, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach to this application

Code / Unit No.

VCE or VCAL

Title of VCE Unit or VCAL strand

Total hours of delivery p/week

Total delivery in hours

Code / Unit No.

E.g. EO01 VCE English Unit 4.2 hours 60 hours E.g. EO01

C.9.3 Partnerships Will any part of the accredited course be delivered through a partnership arrangement?

Yes ☐ Go to C.9.4

No ☐ Go to C.9.5

C.9.4 Proposed partner organisations

If additional rows are required, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach to this application

Name of proposed partner organisation

Responsibilities of partner organisation – course to be delivered

C.9.5 Governance and probity

Evidence for this standard will be addressed in C.1 ☐

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C.9.6 Student learning outcomes

Applicants are required to provide evidence to demonstrate their capacity to deliver the curriculum and assessment, and manage the administrative requirements associated with delivery of a senior secondary course. Applicants must also be authorised to deliver the VCE or VCAL by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The documentation required and links to templates, including those necessary by the VCAA have been provided be, and should be completed and included in this application:

Please provide: C.9.6.i Course outlines for the accredited qualification.VCE - Attendance policy and processesVCE - Administrative rolesVCE - VET program adviceVCAL - Attendance policyVCAL - Administrative rolesVCAL - VET program advice

☐

C.9.6.ii Sample student learning sequences or plans for the accredited qualification.VCE - Curriculum and assessment plan VCAL - Sample assessment task templatesVCAL - Learning program overview

☐

C.9.6.iii Procedures and documentation to indicate that staff and students have been provided with current and accurate information about the awarding body’s requirements including course standards, timelines and qualification requirements.VCE - Disseminating information statementVCE - Eligibility for award of the VCE statementVCE - Satisfactory completion statementVCAL - Satisfactory completion statementVCAL - Disseminating information statementVCAL - Eligibility for award of the VCAL statementVCAL - Management of authentication statement

☐

C.9.6.iv If the school shares responsibility for a senior secondary course with another provider, there must be evidence of a copy of a written agreement between the providers stating how the requirements of the student learning outcomes standard will be met.

☐

C.9.7 Student records and results

Please provide:

C.9.7.i The policy and procedures for senior secondary assessment, administration of records and monitoring and analysis of results to meet the requirements of this standard.VCE - Records and results statementVCAL - Records and results statement

☐

C.9.7.ii If the school shares responsibility for a senior secondary course with another provider, there must be evidence of the written agreement between the providers stating how the requirements of the student records and results standard will be met.

☐

C.9.8 Student welfare

Please provide:

C.9.8.i An outline of how students with special needs will be provided with opportunities to access the course.

☐

C.9.8.ii If the school shares responsibility of a senior secondary course with another provider, there must be evidence of a written agreement between providers stating how each manages its legal responsibilities for students who attend the course, travel between providers or go on excursions.VCE - Special provision policy statement

☐

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 11

C.9.9 Teaching and learning

Please provide:

C.9.9.i A register of teachers’ qualifications or the principal’s attestation of teachers’ qualifications.

☐

C.9.9.ii A plan of the school showing the location of physical facilities to support the course.

☐

C.9.9.iii An overview of teaching resources and that they meet the current requirements of the owner of the course.VCE - Assessment cover sheet

☐

C.9.9.iv Policy and procedures to ensure the consistent application of assessment criteria and practices and to oversee the conduct of assessments of the course.VCE - Investigation of breaches statement VCE - Management of authentication statementVCE - Satisfactory completion statementVCE - Scoring achievement statementVCAL - Assessment practices and Quality Assurance statementVCAL - Satisfactory completion statement

☐

C.9.9.v If the school shares responsibility for a senior secondary course with another provider, there must be evidence in the form of a copy of a written agreement between the providers stating how the requirements of the teaching and learning standard will be met.

☐

Part D – Declarations for all new schools including those amalgamating

Please complete and include: Declarations for all schoolsFit and proper person declarationDeclaration of a schools not-for-profit status

☐

Part E – Declarations for schools offering senior secondary coursesPlease complete and include: Declarations for senior secondary schools ☐

VRQA Register an Independent School – Application form – June 2017 12