Appendix 3 policies required by schools of guide for school governors

	Statutory or non-statutory
Curriculum	Statutory requirement for schools to make, and keep up to date, a written statement of their policy in relation to the curriculum for the school	Article 12 of the Education (NI) Order 2006
Draw up and maintain a policy for the promotion of literacy and numeracy amongst pupils	Non-statutory	Paragraph 2.2 of the literacy and numeracy strategy booklet
Education of children with special educational needs in an ordinary school	Statutory	Articles 4, 8 and 9 of the Education (NI) Order 1996
School Discipline/Preventing Bullying	Statutory requirement for schools to have in place measures to promote good order and in particular to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils	Article 3 of the Education (NI) Order 1998 as amended by Article 19 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003
Child Protection	Statutory requirement for schools to have a child protection policy and to implement it	Article 18 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003
Drugs	Statutory requirement for schools to publish a statement of the school’s policy in relation to drugs	Part 1, Section 20 of the Education (School Information and Prospectuses) Regulations (NI) 2003
Relationships and sexuality education within each pupil’s curriculum	Non-statutory	Paragraph 13 of Circular 2001/15
Open Enrolment	Statutory	Education (NI) Orders 1997, 1998 and 2006 and subordinate regulations
Class Sizes in Practical Subjects	Statutory	Regulation 15 of the Secondary Schools (Grant Conditions) Regulations (NI) 1973 and Circular 2004/5
Schemes of Management for voluntary grammar schools	Statutory	Article 123 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989
Exceptional closure days	Non-statutory	DE Circular 2005/8
Balloting of parents and teachers for appointment to schools’ Boards of Governors	Statutory	Schedules 4-7 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 and Circular 2009/01
Make up of a Board of Governors in a voluntary grammar school depending on the capital funding situation	Statutory	Schedule 6 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1993
Information that must be included in a school’s prospectus and the Annual Report of the Board of Governors	Statutory	Education (School Information and Prospectuses) Regulations (NI) 2003 and Circular 2003/15
Guidance policy for schools on Security and Personal Safety in Schools in relation to Health and Safety	Non-statutory - Guidance and advice	Article 4(3) of the Health and Safety At Work (NI) Order 1978 Guidance issued May 1997
Policy with respect to the provision of, and the classes or descriptions of case in which it proposes to make charges for, any optional extra or board and lodging in respect of which charges may be permitted	Statutory but not applicable to voluntary grammar schools which have not entered into an agreement with DE under Schedule 6 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 - Article 127(2) of the 1989 Order refers	Article 131 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989
Staff Disciplinary procedure	Statutory	Schedule 4 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 or approved Schemes of Management
Staff Grievance procedure	Statutory	Schedule 4 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 or approved Schemes of Management
Staff Salary Policy	Statutory	DE Circular 1993/24
Staff Training and Development	Statutory	PRSD
Teacher redundancies procedure	Statutory	Schedule 4 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989
Termination of employment of teachers on the grounds of ill health or capability	Statutory	Teachers’ (Eligibility) Regulations (NI) 1997 No 312
Teachers’ pay/sick pay/leave of absence determinations	Statutory	Article 69(1) and (6) of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 Teachers’ Salaries Regulations (NI) 1993 (as amended) Annual Teacher Pay Determinations (issued as Department circulars)
Employment/misconduct of teachers	Statutory	Teachers’ (Eligibility) Regulations (NI) 1997 No 312

Back to top

Additional employment policies

As a consequence of Employment law and/or agreements reached through the arrangements for negotiating staff remuneration and terms and conditions of service:

• Maternity Leave Scheme
• Adoption Leave Scheme
• Paternity Leave Scheme
• Parental Leave Scheme
• Career Break Scheme
• Promoting a Dignified Workplace – A Policy Statement and Code of Practice on Measures to Combat Bullying and Harassment of Teaching Staff in Schools
• Job Share Scheme
• Assault on Teachers – Indemnification
• Smoking Policy for Schools
• Managing Attendance
• Collective Agreement
• Alcohol and Drug Misuse Policy
• Procedures for dealing with principals/vice-principals and teachers whose work is unsatisfactory
• Guidance to Board of Governors on the formulation and implementation of salary policy
• Performance Review and Staff Development scheme
• Procedures for teachers who work with VDUs and who wish to apply for eyescreening test
• Whistleblowing policy

Back to top