2024 Code self-review and attestation

School signatories must regularly review the quality of their learner wellbeing and safety practices under Part 7 of the Code. Schools then attest that self-review has taken place at a date set by NZQA.

The due date for 2024 attestation submissions for school signatories is 1 December.

Completing a self-review and attesting that this has been done are requirements for a school to maintain their Code signatory status.

If you have not enrolled international learners for the past year, but wish to maintain your Code signatory status, you must complete and document a self-review against the Code outcomes. In this situation, self-review is not a review of performance, but a review of documented policies and procedures.

If you no longer wish to maintain your Code signatory status, you can request to voluntarily withdraw this status by emailing us at code.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz.

Please note that once Code signatory status has been withdrawn, a school must re-apply should they wish to enrol international learners in the future.

Further information on completing and submitting your 2024 Code attestation will be sent via email to Principal and Code contacts in September.

Self-review and attestation information sessions

We will be offering several Code self-review and attestation information sessions to support school signatories navigate the process.

  • 22 October 2024, 10 am
  • 24 October 2024, 10 am
  • 29 October 2024, 10 am

All workshops are free.

Learn more about our workshops and to register

Workshops on self-review and attestation will be available later in the year.

Homestay focus groups

NZQA is hosting three focus groups on homestay accommodation under the Code.

The focus group dates are:

  • 28 August 2024, 2 pm
  • 11 September 2024, 2 pm
  • 18 September 2024, 2 pm

We want to hear directly from practitioners working in the homestay accommodation space about what Code requirements may need clarification and to discuss good practice, knowledge gaps and issues the sector may be facing.

Learn more and register for a focus group session

Code Spotlight: Preparing for and gathering evidence for self-review

If you’re new to self-review, it can seem like an overwhelming task.

Determining how you will prepare for your Code self-review and what evidence you will be gathering are important steps in being able to undertake an effective, fit-for-purpose review.

Preparing for self-review

The first step for an effective self-review process is preparing. Preparing for self-review will look different for each school.

If this is your school’s first Code self-review, keep in mind that it may take some time to go through.

Once your school has the required systems, processes and capability, the process of self-review will become more streamlined.

Preparing for self-review is about planning the process so that you are clear what you will be looking at, why this will be the focus of your review, how/when you will conduct your review, and who will be involved.

Our self-review toolkit has resources you may consider using to help you prepare for self-review.

Self-review toolkit

You may also amend these resources to fit your needs and guide your self-review process.

Gathering evidence to support your self-review

Gathering evidence from a range of sources to support your self-review is another important component of effective self-review and one that is best to plan early in the process.

Good quality evidence is information that is directly relevant to the questions you are trying to answer through your self-review.

Some examples of evidence that may be helpful in a Code self-review are:

  • Policies that relate to your wellbeing and safety practices for international learners
  • Student experience or satisfaction survey data
  • Feedback from teachers, international students and their parents/legal guardians, or homestay families.

Whatever information you determine is relevant and helpful to guide your self-review, ensure that any conclusions or action plans you come to at the end can be supported by the evidence you have used.

Find more information and resources on preparing for self-review

Code self-review guidelines [PDF, 569 KB]