4.1 Registration of a New School

Þ  4.1.1 Application Period
Þ  4.1.2 Application Form and Fee
Þ  4.1.3 Approval Process

A proposal for registration of a new school shall be made no later than nine (9) months before the intended date of opening (Regulation 4(1), Education Regulations 1995) unless, in a particular case, a shorter period has been approved by the Board.

The determination of an application for registration of a proposed new school is to be undertaken at least six (6) months prior to the intended date of opening (Regulation 4(2), Education Regulations 1995). The basis of registration at this time is that considering the intentions of the proposers, the proposed school is likely to meet the minimum standards determined by the Minister in relation to the matters listed in Section 53–(1) of the Education Act 1994, and that the Board is satisfied that the school should be registered.

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4.1.2 Application Form and Fee

An application should be made on the form Application for Registration of a New Non-Government School also available from the office of the Schools Registration Board. This should be forwarded to the Board and accompanied by the application fee of $250.00. The Board’s officers (ie the Chairperson and Executive Officer) will provide assistance and information to individuals or groups wishing to apply for registration of a new school.

4.1.3 Approval Process

On receipt of an application, the officers shall prepare a summary of the relevant information for presentation to the Board at least one month before the final possible date for making a determination. This report shall provide information on all matters referred to in Section 53 of the Act. If such information has not been provided by the proposers in the application, or is insufficient, the officers shall request the information before completing the report.

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The Board in considering the officers’ report shall do one or more of the following:

1. approve the registration;

2. instruct the officers to obtain specific additional information before reconsidering the application;

3. instruct the officers to obtain an opinion on whether or not particular matters would meet the minimum standards determined by the Minister;

4. instruct the officers to arrange for representatives of the proposers to attend a meeting of the Board at which the application will be further considered;

5. arrange for such other actions as may be necessary for the Board to make a determination;

6. refuse the application.

Unless the Board has made a determination in respect of the proposed school, the officers shall proceed to carry out the Board’s instructions and arrange for the matter to be discussed further at the next meeting. At that meeting the Board shall make a determination so that the school proposers know six months in advance whether or not they will be able to open the school.

A proposed new school that has been approved shall be registered for up to two years and at an appropriate time the school shall be reviewed in line with Sections 55 and 56 of the Act.

The Minister shall be informed of any determination made in respect of an application for registration of a new school.

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