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Standards and evidence guides

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Standards for registration and review of registration of schools in South Australia

The Standards for registration and review of registration of schools in South Australia are broad statements of criteria that must be met to provide education services as a registered school according to legislative requirements. We use the Standards to assess:

  • all applications for registration of a new school
  • applications to change the registration of existing registered schools
  • reviews of registration.

Evidence guide to using the Standards for registration of new or changed schools

This evidence guide is intended to assist organisations and schools with providing evidence to demonstrate they have met, or have the capability to meet, the Standards. It is to be used by organisations applying to be registered as a school and to registered schools applying to change their registration.

Evidence guide to using the Standards for review of registration

The Education Standards Board (ESB) will contact schools specifying the evidence that is required, when they are due for a review of their registration. If you have any questions, please contact us at esb.schools@sa.gov.au or 1800 882 413.

Online learning

The ESB has produced a new policy statement and updated evidence guide to support schools that are delivering or planning to implement online learning.

The Online Learning Policy Statement and updated evidence guide supplement the Standards for Registration and Review of Registration of Schools in South Australia (the Standards). These documents aim to assist organisations and schools with providing evidence to demonstrate they have met the Standards.

They are also for organisations applying to be registered as a school and to registered schools who want to add online learning as a mode of delivery.  

What’s in scope?

Blended learning: a combination of online and face-to-face learning, blended learning offers flexibility while maintaining in-person interactions. For example, students complete online theory lessons on science experiments and then attend lab sessions in person for practical work.

Synchronous online learning: students and teachers connect in real-time, but from different locations. For example, a history teacher hosts a live online lesson where students join via video conferencing, participate in class discussions, and ask questions during the session.

Distance learning: this mode focuses on geographical separation between students and educators, and can include online and conventional methods, such as mailed assignments. For example, a rural student participates in distance learning, accessing a full curriculum online and uploading tasks or mailing in assessments for subjects like art, where physical submissions are required.

What’s not in scope?

Asynchronous online learning: this mode allows students to access course materials and complete assignments at their own pace without real-time interaction. For example, an English teacher uploads video lessons and assignments on poetry analysis for students to watch and complete independently within a given timeframe.

This mode of delivery is not approved for schools.

Next steps

Registered schools: how to notify the ESB of online learning

Registered schools which are delivering or planning to implement online learning must ensure compliance with the criteria in the updated evidence guide and new policy statement and notify the ESB of their online curriculum delivery by email.

Use the Online Learning Policy Statement and updated evidence guide alongside the Standards and checklist to ensure your school has met all the criteria.

Once you have checked your school meets the criteria, please notify us via email at esb.schools@sa.gov.au to add online learning to your current delivery modes.

New schools: how to apply to deliver online learning

The process for new school applications remains unchanged. Submission is through our website in line with the new school registration practice and as part of this, online learning will be added to your delivery modes.

Amendments have been made to the following standards to include online learning:

  • criterion 2.2 to 2.6
  • criterion 3.1 to 3.3
  • criterion 3.7.

Contact us by email at esb.schools@sa.gov.au if you have any questions.

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Contact us

Education Standards Board
GPO Box 1811
Adelaide SA 5001
Australia

Contact us
Phone
​1800 882 413
Email
educationstandardsboard@sa.gov.au
Opening hours
9 am to 5 pm
Monday to Friday

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians as the First Nations people and custodians of the land on which we live, work, learn and play. We also recognise their contribution to the education and care of children. We respect Elders past, present, future and emerging.

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