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Registration and accreditation manuals
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- Registration and Accreditation of Individual Non-government Schools
- Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools
In NSW, a non-government school is an institution that is registered to educate any or all of the Years of schooling: Kindergarten to Year 12.
Registration is a non-government school’s licence to operate. Registration ensures the requirements of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) will be met.
Accreditation authorises a non-government school to present candidates for the award of the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and/or the Higher School Certificate (HSC). It is optional for a secondary school to apply for accreditation in addition to registration.
A non-government school may be registered as either:
- an individual non-government school
- a member school of a system of non-government schools.
Registration (and if applicable, accreditation) requirements are the same for all non-government schools. Schools must refer to the Manual below that is relevant to their sector.
Registered and accredited schools need to comply with the current Education Act, which means they need to be across any amendments.
NESA is mindful of confidential matters relating to schools and school systems and is committed to complying with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).
Registration and Accreditation of Individual Non-government Schools
Individual non-government schools are owned and operated by a proprietor.
The NSW Registered and Accredited Individual Non-government Schools Manual (PDF) is a comprehensive guide that set out the legal basis for registration and accreditation, requirements and evidence of compliance for registration and accreditation, application and assessment processes.
Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools
A Registration System has:
- an approved authority that is responsible for monitoring the compliance of member schools
- 20 or more member schools, each with a proprietor that owns and operates their school(s).
The NSW Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools Manual (PDF) is a comprehensive guide that sets out the legal basis for a system of non-government schools. It also includes the requirements and evidence of compliance for registration and accreditation, and related processes for applications.
System monitoring
Approved Registration Systems need to monitor compliance of their member schools with registration requirements. Each Registration System creates and implements their own policies and procedures.
NESA monitors a Registration System to ensure its procedures are:
- consistent with documented policies and procedures
- effective in monitoring the compliance of its member schools with the requirements.
NESA makes recommendations to the Minister about the registration of non-government schools within approved Registration Systems.
Related content
Additional information
RANGS Online
The Manuals should be read with:
- the Education Act
- NESA's syllabuses
- ACE website (Assessment Certification Examination rules)
- Official Notices
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