Catholic Schools

Information for Preference of Enrolment

A comprehensive information sheet for parents and caregivers seeking preference of enrolment at Catholic Schools in the Auckland Diocese. 

Preference of Enrolment Certificate 

This form needs to be completed by one of the following agents of the Bishop

• Parish Priest of the Parish of Residence of the family
• Assistant Priest of their Parish of Residence
• Priests appointed under canon 517/1
• Deacons and lay persons appointed to pastoral care under canon 517/2
• Ethnic chaplains who liaise with parish priests or their delegate
• Local committees appointed by the Bishop or by any of the above agents of the Bishop

Preference Appeal Form for Catholic Diocese of Auckland

Parents/Caregivers, or Principals making an appeal on behalf of parents/caregivers for preference status which has been declined by the Bishop's agent for the granting of preference are asked to complete the appeal form.

Providing for Catholic Schools in Auckland

Attendance Dues are a compulsory payment under the terms of the Education and Training Act 2020, and a condition of enrolment at a Catholic school.  Attendance Dues are charged for all students who attend Catholic Schools in New Zealand.  It is a legal charge and not a donation; attendance dues are not tax deductible.

Attendance Dues are used to repay loans for building works done at schools in the Auckland Diocese, property related costs including school building works, buildings insurance and costs directly associated with the administration of attendance dues.

Attendance Dues are collected by the schools on behalf of the school’s Proprietor and depending on the facilities available, you can pay with Cash, Eftpos, Automatic Payment and Internet Banking.
Attendance Dues can be paid in full at the beginning of the year, per term or by regular installment.

As a condition of enrolment at an integrated school, there is a legal requirement for parents and caregivers to pay attendance dues.
No preference student will be denied access to a Catholic School because parents and caregivers are unable to pay attendance dues in full. However, there is a need for all parents and caregivers to make a commitment to paying something towards the cost of the child’s education at a Catholic Integrated School.

Attendance Dues Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of attendance dues for preference students attending Catholic schools in Auckland Diocese, both primary and secondary.
Families facing financial difficulties can contact their school office, their Parish Priest or the Revenue Manager at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland for further information.

Application forms for the Attendance Dues Financial Assistance Scheme are available from school and parish offices, or use the link below to complete the application, then print and sign the form.

Click here to download the ACFL Attendance Dues Financial Assistance Scheme

Special Character Contributions

The Catholic Special Character contribution is a voluntary donation of $12.50 per term ($50.00 per annum) per student.

This contribution provides the main source of funding for all services provided to Catholic Schools in the Auckland Diocese by the Catholic Education Services Board. No contributions are made by the Government for these services.
The Catholic Education Services Board assists schools to provide a Catholic education for your child through the preservation and enhancement of the Catholic Special Character in our schools.

Compulsory Attendance Dues Charges

 Parent and Caregiver Responsibilities

Attendance Dues are a compulsory payment under the terms of the Education and Training Act 2020 and a condition of enrolment. Attendance Dues are charged for all students who attend Catholic Schools in New Zealand.

Attendance Dues are collected by your school on behalf of the school’s Proprietor. The Attendance Dues are forwarded to Auckland Common Fund Limited, a company established by the proprietors of Catholic Integrated Schools in the Diocese of Auckland responsible for the collection of Attendance Dues.

• At the time you enrol your child at a Catholic School, you are required to sign an agreement which states you accept that you will pay the Attendance Dues and that you understand that payment is a condition of enrolment.
• Payments can be made, in full at the beginning of the year or by instalment (weekly, fortnightly, monthly or per term)
• They can not be paid in full at the end of each year.
• Financial Assistance with Attendance Dues is available to families of Preference Students in cases of genuine financial difficulties. Part of the criteria for receiving this assistance is that regular payments have been made at an affordable level.
• Overdue accounts may be referred to a Debt Collection Agency by the Proprietor.
• Failure to pay the Attendance Dues may put your child’s place at the school at risk
• The agreement is legally enforceable and the person who signs the agreement remains legally liable for payment.
• Responsibility for payment cannot be transferred to another person, unless they sign a new agreement accepting responsibility for payment.
• Any civil agreements between parents do not take precedence over the legal agreement signed at the time of enrolment.

ATTENDANCE DUES 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME

Financial assistance is available to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of Attendance Dues for preference students attending Catholic schools in the Auckland Diocese, both primary and secondary.

Families facing financial difficulties can contact their school office, their Parish Priest or the Revenue Manager at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland for further information.

Application forms for the Attendance Dues Financial Assistance Scheme are available from school and parish offices, or use the link below to complete the application, then print and sign the form.

Click here to download the ACFL Attendance Dues Financial Assistance Scheme

RETURN THE DOCUMENTS TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

The Catholic Church recognises the important role that our Catholic Early Childhood Services play in fostering the holistic development of young Catholic children. The Church acknowledges parents as the first educators of their children and supports this with provision of Catholic Education at early childhood level, where viable. In Catholic Early Childhood Centres children are assisted in their spiritual development and membership of the Church as well as developing the skills needed for an easy and smooth transition to school.

Early Childhood Services share in the Mission of Catholic Education and therefore the Catholic Special Character of each Centre must be given due recognition. The holistic foundation principles of Te Whariki, the Early Childhood Curriculum, make it totally in tune with Catholic values and beliefs about the education of young children. The Catholic Character dimension should never be considered as an 'add on; or as something to be carried out at a specific time each day. It is the heart of the Service and it should infuse everything that the staff and children do throughout the day.

The primary purpose of a Catholic Early Childhood Service (ECS) is to provide an all-encompassing Catholic family atmosphere that creates the awakening and nurturing of faith in the young children bringing them to an awareness of God and Gospel values and their place.

Catholic Early Childhood Service are required to have strong links with local parishes and Catholic schools.

GUIDELINES

The guidelines for determining whether an ECS may describe itself as "Catholic" aim to ensure that the service has in place structures and processes which:

• Ensure the service has and maintains an authentic Catholic identity
• Support and uphold the integrity of the Bishop
• Protect the Bishop/ Diocese/ Parish from liability

LEGALITIES

1. The Bishop decides whether a particular ECS in the Auckland Diocese may be designed as Catholic and may impose conditions on the Service in order for it to receive that designation
2. The Catholic ECS must be licensed in accordance with the Education Act 1989 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
3. All new Catholic ECS must be incorporated as a legal entity which is separate in law from a Church structure such as a diocese, school or parish.
4. Establishing the ECS as an incorporated company is the preferred model although an incorporated Trust is also acceptable.
5. By 2020 all existing Catholic ECS must be incorporated as legal entities separate in law from a Church structure.
6. The legal entity is the owner of the Catholic ECS, and does not need to own the property or facilities the Catholic ECS uses.
7. The Catholic ECS's documentation provided to parents must:
   • require signed assent to their children participating in the Catholic Early Childhood curriculum and in activities associated with the Catholic character of the Catholic ECS;
   • make clear that attendance at a Catholic ECS does not in itself provide an automatic preference certificate and right to attend a Catholic school.
8. The Catholic ECS must have an ongoing relationship with the Auckland Catholic Schools Office and cooperate fully in the monitoring of the Catholic character as required by the Bishop. This monitoring includes
   • Periodic external reviews of the Catholic Special Character of the Centre
   • Submitting a report at the end year according to the format determined by the CSO
9. The Catholic ECS must be willing to pay a per student levy to cover the costs of monitoring of the Catholic character.

FINANCIAL VIABILITY

10. Prior to approval for the establishment of new Centres evidence must be provided to demonstrate to the Bishop or his advisers that the Service will be financially viable and sustainable.
11. Risk of viability remains with the ECS operator at all times.

SAFETY

12. The Catholic ECS must be able to demonstrate that in addition to the health and safety requirements of the Ministry of Education for ECSs and the health and safety requirements for any workplace, the ECS has in place effective screening and monitoring processes for staff and volunteers.