For kura hourua | charter schools
Information for teachers and LAT holders working at a kura hourua | charter school.
On this page
What is a kura hourua | charter school and who can they employ?
- Teachers
- Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) holders
- Non-teaching positions
- More information about kura hourua | charter schools
How is a Charter School Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) different?
What kura hourua | charter schools have been approved?
How to apply for a Charter School Limited Authority to Teach (LAT)
What is a kura hourua | charter school and who can they employ?
A kura hourua | charter school is another type of state-funded school established to provide a higher level of independence around how and what they teach learners. A kura hourua | charter school is operated by a sponsor. The sponsor must, among other things:
- ensure the teachers employed in the school have the necessary qualifications and skills to teach
- appoint a person to be the person responsible overall for the teaching and learning at the school who is appropriately qualified and holds a current practising certificate.
While state schools must use the New Zealand Curriculum or Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and national curriculum statements, a kura hourua | charter school can use their own curriculum, provided tuition standards are at least equivalent to state schools of the same year levels.
Teachers
When appointing teaching staff, a sponsor must employ a minimum of 75% teachers who are registered and hold a current practising certificate issued by the Teaching Council, and who appear on the Teaching Council’s online Register of New Zealand Registered Teachers. Kura hourua | charter school teachers are registered and certificated in exactly the same way as teachers in early childhood centres, state schools, private schools, and specialist schools. The practising certificate must be renewed every three years – the expiry date is shown on the online Register.
Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) holders
A sponsor may employ a smaller number of teaching staff (a maximum of 25%) who aren't registered teachers with a current practising certificate, but to legally teach these staff must hold a current LAT issued by the Teaching Council, and appear on the Teaching Council’s online List of Limited Authority to Teach Holders. The online List records the expiry date for each LAT. The percentage or number of LAT holders is included in the agreement between the Crown and the sponsor.
A LAT is designed for people without teaching qualifications who have specialist skills, skills that are in short supply, or who teach in a kura hourua | charter school – a LAT isn't a type of practising certificate and isn't for registered teachers.
Unlike LAT holders at other kura | schools, a LAT holder employed at a kura hourua | charter school can be employed on a permanent basis, and will be subject to the Teaching Council’s disciplinary processes, but not its competency processes.
Non-teaching positions
Sponsors may also employ staff in non-teaching positions such as teacher aides. Non-teaching positions do not fall under the responsibilities of the Teaching Council.
More info about kura hourua | charter schools
More information can be found at the Charter School Agency website.
How is a Charter School Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) different?
Other LAT types aren't employed on a permanent basis but are issued for a maximum period of three years.
Changes to the Education and Training Act 2020 allow Charter School LAT holders to be employed on a permanent basis. A Charter School LAT holder will be required to apply for a new LAT every three years, to allow the required police vetting to be undertaken.
The expiry date of each LAT is shown on the online List of Limited Authority to Teach Holders.
All LAT holders, including those employed at a kura hourua | charter school, are required to comply with Ngā Tikanga Matatika | Code of Professional Responsibility (link). All LAT holders are subject to the Teaching Council’s professional disciplinary processes if Ngā Tikanga Matatika | Code of Professional Responsibility is breached or if there are concerns about their conduct. All LAT holders are also required to advise the Teaching Council if they're convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for three months or more.
Unlike other LAT holders, Charter School LAT holders aren't subject to the Teaching Council’s professional competency processes.
What kura hourua | charter schools have been approved?
The Teaching Council cannot process any applications for a Charter School Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) unless the kura hourua | charter school has been approved by the Charter School Agency and a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette.
The following kura hourua | charter schools have been notified:
- Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki, Hillsborough, Christchurch
- North West Creative Arts College - Huapai, Auckland
- Ecole Française Internationale Auckland - Remuera, Auckland
- Christchurch North College - Burnside, Christchurch
- Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao - Cable Bay
- The BUSY School NZ - Auckland Central
- Tipene – Bombay, Auckland
How to apply for a Charter School Limited Authority to Teach (LAT)
An application for a Charter School LAT can only be submitted to the Teaching Council if the kura hourua | charter school has been approved by the Charter School Agency and a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette.
A LAT application is submitted via Hapori Matatū, the Teaching Council’s online digital platform.
Education Sector Logon (ESL)
An ESL with the Hapori Matatū LAT role assigned to it is required before you can access the LAT application form on Hapori Matatū. You need to contact the ESL Delegated Authoriser (DA) at the kura hourua | charter school so they can arrange for you to receive an ESL email invitation. This email will include a link that allows you to set up a user name and passphrase to access Hapori Matatū. Any queries about obtaining an ESL should be addressed to enquiries@teachingcouncil.nz.
Completion of Specialist Skills Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) application form
All Charter School LAT applicants must complete the Specialist Skills LAT application form. This application form will require you to, among other things:
- provide evidence of the skills and experience you have to advance the learning of a student or group of students
- your consent for the Teaching Council to apply to New Zealand Police for a police vet and evidence of a satisfactory overseas police vet, if applicable
- declarations that you're:
- committed to the expectations in Ngā Tikanga Matatika | Code of Professional Responsibility
- committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi | Treaty of Waitangi
- physically and mentally able to carry out a teaching role safely and satisfactorily
- evidence of your competency in English and/or te Reo Māori.
Endorser responsibilities
An endorser must complete your LAT application endorsement. Your endorser is usually the tumuaki | principal or the person responsible overall for teaching and learning of the kura hourua | charter school, who is appropriately qualified and holds a current practising certificate.
The endorser is required to verify your identity documents which are required for the New Zealand Police vet.
The endorser must select “Charter School LAT” as the subject option relevant to you.