Independent Private School Minimum Standards

Independent Private School Minimum Standards

PART 1

Quality of education provided

1.      The standards about the quality of education provided at the school are those contained in this Part.

2.       

1)      The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub-section (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively.

2)      The matters are—

(a)     full-time  supervised  education  for  pupils  of  compulsory  school  age which gives pupils experience in  linguistic,  mathematical,  scientific,  technological,  human and social, physical  and aesthetic and creative education;

(b)     subject matter appropriate for the ages and aptitudes of pupils, including those pupils with a statement;

(c)     that pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills;

(d)    where the principal language of instruction is a language other than English, lessons in written and spoken English, except that this matter does not apply in respect of a school which provides education for pupils who are all temporarily resident in Uganda and which follows the curriculum of another country;

(e)     where a pupil has a statement, education which fulfils its requirements;

(f)      personal, social and health education which reflects the school’s aim and ethos;

(g)     appropriate careers guidance for pupils receiving secondary education;

(h)     where the school has pupils above compulsory school age, a programme of activities which is appropriate to their needs;

(i)       that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress; and

(j)       adequate preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of  adult life.

3. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school—

(a)    enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make progress according to their ability so
that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught;

(b)   fosters in pupils the application of intellectual, physical or creative effort, interest in their
work and the ability to think and learn for themselves;

(c)    involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management
of class time;

(d)   shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils,
and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons;

(e)    (e)  demonstrates  appropriate  knowledge  and understanding of the subject  matter  being     taught;

(f)    utilises effectively classroom resources of an adequate quality, quantity and range;

(g)   demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly
and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress; and

(h)   (h)  utilises  effective  strategies  for  managing  behaviour  and  encouraging  pupils  to  act    responsibly.

4. The standard in this section is met where the proprietor ensures that a framework for pupil performance to be evaluated, by reference either to the school’s own aims as provided to parents or national norms, or to both, is in place.

PART 2

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

5. The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school is met if the proprietor ensures that principles are promoted which—

(a)    enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;

(b)    enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the law;

(c)    encourage  pupils  to  accept  responsibility  for  their  behaviour,  show  initiative  and  understand how they can contribute to community life;

(d)   provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of public institutions and services in Uganda; and

(e)    assist pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions.

PART 3

Welfare, health and safety of pupils

6. The standards about the welfare, health and safety of pupils at the school are those contained in this Part.

7. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that—

(a)    arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at  the school; and

(b)    such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Government.

8. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that—

(a)        arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of boarders while they are accommodated at the school; and

(b)        such arrangements have regard to the Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, the Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools.

9. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that a written policy to promote good behaviour amongst pupils and set out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour is drawn up and effectively implemented.

10. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that regard is had to the Guidance on “Safe to Learn: Embedding anti-bullying work in schools”.

11. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that regard is had to the Guidance on “Health and Safety: Responsibilities and Powers”.

12. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that regard is had to the Guidance on “Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits”.

13. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that the Fire and Safety Regulations are complied with.

14. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that a written policy on first aid is drawn up and implemented.

15. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that school staff are deployed to ensure the proper supervision of pupils.

16. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.

17. The standard in this section is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Ministry of Education guidelines.

PART 4

Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

18. The standards about the suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors are those contained in this Part.

19.—(1) The standard in this section relates to the suitability of persons  appointed  as members of staff at the school, other than the proprietor and supply staff.

(2) The standard in this section is met if—

(a)    the proprietor carries out appropriate checks to confirm in respect of each such person—

(i)  the person’s identity;

(ii)  the person’s medical fitness;

(iii)  the person’s right to work in the Uganda; and

(iv)  where appropriate, the person’s qualifications;

(c)        an enhanced criminal record check is made by the proprietor in respect of any such person and the resulting enhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable after the person’s appointment;

(d)       in the case of any person for whom, by reason of that person living or having lived outside Uganda, obtaining such a certificate is not sufficient to establish the person’s suitability to work in a school, such further checks are made as the proprietor considers appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Government; and

(e)        in the case of staff who care for, train, supervise or are in charge of boarders, in addition
to the matters specified in sections (a) to (d), the proprietor checks that Standard of  the Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or, where applicable, and in the light of the information from the checks referred to in sections  (b) to  (e) the proprietor considers that the person is suitable for the position to which the person is appointed.

(3) The checks referred to in sub-sections (2)(b) and (except where sub-section (4) applies)

(2) (d) must be completed before a person’s appointment.

(4) The checks specified in sub-sections (2)(c), (d) and (e) do not need to be carried out where the new member of staff (“M”) has worked in—

(a)  a school in Uganda in a position which brought a member of staff regularly into contact with children or young persons;

(b)   an institution within the further education sector in Uganda in a position which involved
the provision of education or which brought a member of staff regularly into contact with children or young persons, during a period which ended not more than three months before member of staff’s appointment.

20.—(1) This section relates to the suitability of supply staff at an independent private school.

(2) The standard in this section is met if—

(a)  a person offered for supply by an employment business to the school only begins to work at the school if the proprietor has received—

(i)  written notification from the employment business in relation to that person—

(aa)      that the checks referred to in section 22(3)(a) to (c), (e) and (f) have been made;

(bb)     that it or another employment business has made an enhanced criminal record check or has obtained an enhanced criminal record certificate in response to such a check made by it or another employment business; and

(cc)      if the employment business has obtained such a certificate before the person is due  to  begin  work  at  the  school,  whether  it  disclosed  any  matter  or information, or any information was supplied to the employment business and

(ii)  a  copy of  any enhanced criminal record certificate obtained by an employment business before the person is due to begin work at the school, and where it discloses any  matter  or  information,  or  where  any  information  was  provided  to  the employment business;

(c)    a person offered for supply by an employment business only begins work at the school if the proprietor considers that the person is suitable for the work for which the person is supplied;

(d)   before a person offered for supply by an employment business begins work at the school
the person’s identity is checked by the proprietor of the school (irrespective of any such  check carried out by the employment business before the person was offered for supply);

(e)    the proprietor, in the contract or other arrangements which the proprietor makes with any
employment business, requires the employment business—

(i)  to provide the notification referred to in section (a)(i); and

(ii)  if any enhanced criminal record certificate which the employment business obtains
contains any matter or information, or  if any information was supplied to the
employment business, in respect of any person whom the employment business supplies to the school; and

(e) except for those persons to whom sub-section (4) applies, in the case of supply staff
who care for, train, supervise or are in charge of boarders, the proprietor checks that the
relevant parts of Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or where applicable.

(3)  Except in the case of a person to whom sub-section (4) applies, the certificate referred to in sub-section (2)(a)(i)(bb) must have been obtained not more than 3 months before the date on which the person is due to begin work at the school.

(4) This sub-section applies to a person who has worked in—

(a) a school in Uganda in a position which brought a person regularly into contact with children or young persons;

(b) an institution within the further education sector in Uganda in a position which involved the provision of education or which brought a person regularly into contact with young children or young persons, during a period which ended not more than three months before a person is due to begin work at the school.

21.—   (1) The standard in this section  relates  to  the  suitability  of  the  proprietor  of  an independent private school.

(2) Sub-section (3) relates to the suitability of the proprietor where the proprietor is an individual.

(3) The standard in this section is met if—

(a)  the individual—

(i)      is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with Laws of  Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups; and

(ii) does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of any direction made under the law or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction; and

(b)  the government makes the following checks relating to the individual before the school is entered in the register or, in the case of a registered school, before or as soon as practicable after the individual takes over as proprietor—

(i)  an enhanced criminal record check, countersigned by the government;

(ii)  checks confirming the individual’s identity and their right to work in Uganda; and

(iii)  in the case of an individual for whom, by reason of that individual living or having lived outside Uganda, obtaining an enhanced criminal record certificate is not sufficient to establish the individual’s suitability to work in a school, such further checks as the government considers appropriate.

(4) Sub-sections (5) to (8) relate to the suitability of the proprietor where the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or unincorporate.

(5) The standard in this section is met in relation to an individual who is the Chair of the school if—

(a)  the individual—

(i)  is not barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with the laws  Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups; and

(ii)  does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of any direction made under the laws or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction; and

(b)  subject to sub-sections (7) and (8), the Government makes the following checks
relating to the individual—

(i)  an enhanced criminal record check, countersigned by the Government;

(ii)  checks confirming the individual’s identity and their right to work in the United  Kingdom; and

(iii)  in the case of an individual for whom, by reason of the individual living or having lived outside the Uganda, obtaining an enhanced criminal record certificate
is not sufficient to establish the individual’s suitability to work in a school, such
further checks as the Government considers appropriate.

(6) The standard in this section is met in relation to an individual, not being the Chair of the school, who is a member of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the register or in an application to enter the school in the register, if—

(a)  MB—

(i)   does not carry out work, or intend to carry out work, at the school in contravention of
      any direction made under the law or any disqualification,
      prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction;

(b)  subject to sub-sections (7) to (8), the Chair of the school makes the following checks
      relating to the individual —

(i)  an enhanced criminal record check;

(ii)  checks confirming individual’s identity and individual’s right to work in the Uganda;
      and

(iii)  where,  by reason of individual’s living or having lived outside Uganda,
      obtaining an enhanced criminal record certificate is not sufficient to establish individual’s suitability  to  work  in a school, such further checks as the Chair of the school considers appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Government; and

(c)  subject  to  sub-section (8),  where  the  Government makes  a request  for  an
      enhanced criminal record check relating to individual countersigned by the Government to
      be made, such a check is made.

(7) In a case where—

(a)  the suitability of the proprietor is being considered in response to an application by the
            governing body of a maintained school to enter the school on the register, and

(b)  the local authority maintaining the school has made one or more of the checks referred to
in sub-section (5)(b) or (6)(b) in relation to the Chair of the school or individual, sub-section (5)(b) or (6)(b) (as the case may be) is treated as complied with so far as relating to that check.

(8) In the case of a registered school—

(a)  sub-section  (5)(b) is met where the checks referred to in that sub-section are
completed before or as soon as practicable after the Chair of the school starts acting as such;

(b)  sub-section (6)(b) is met where the checks referred to in section (b)(i) and (iii) are completed before or as soon as practicable after individual starts acting as a member of the body of persons corporate or unincorporate named in the register as the proprietor of the school; and

(c)  sub-section (6)(c) is met where the enhanced criminal record check is made as soon as
practicable after the Government’s request.

(9) In this section a reference to the Chair of the school is a reference to an individual who is the Chair of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate named as the proprietor of the school in the register or in an application to enter the school in the register and includes a reference to a similar officer.

22.—(1) The standard in this section is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-sections (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question.

(2) The register referred to in sub-section (1) may be kept in electronic form, provided that the information so recorded is capable of being reproduced in legible form.

(3) The information referred to in this sub-section is, in relation to each member of staff (“S”), whether—

(a)  Staff’s identity was checked;

(b)  checks were made to ensure, where appropriate, that Staff had the relevant qualifications; (d)  an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of Staff;
(e)  checks were made pursuant to section 19(2)(d);
(f)   a check of Staff’s right to work in Uganda was made; and
(g)  checks were made pursuant to section 19(2)(e), including the date on which each such check was completed or the certificate obtained.

(4) The information referred to in this sub-section is, in relation to each member of staff, whether each check referred to in sub-section (3) was made and whether an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained, together with the date on which any check was completed or certificate obtained.

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