Silverdale Normal School
International Student Information Pack
* Overseas students are welcome in our school.
* All students enrolled in our school must be living with a parent.
* We have a number of ethnic groups in our school.
* We are an accredited school and signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
* We have been teaching English as a second language to overseas students for more than fifteen years.
* Our Specialist Teacher / Co-ordinator in charge of overseas students is a recognised lead teacher in this field. She has an ESOL Certificate, has led the local ESOL cluster group and is called upon to work with other ESOL teachers. She will meet with you when you arrive, will visit you at home if you wish, and will liaise between home and school.
* In 2010 our ESOL programme was evaluated by the Ministry of Education Verifiers and the report we received was excellent.
* Our classroom teachers have undertaken professional learning in order to gain the skills necessary to teach students for whom English is not a first language.
* We have experienced Learning Assistants who provide in-class support for children, where necessary.
* There are additional opportunities to meet and discuss your needs and concerns at meetings for parents of ESOL students.
* We limit the number of students we can accommodate in any one year or at any one time.
* We do not charge or pay agents’ fees.
* Our annual fee is final and it will not change for you whilst your child is at our school. There are no additional charges for any in-school activity or any materials the student may require during his/her schooling in any one year.
The Code of Practice
for the Pastoral Care of International Students
In 2002, the New Zealand Government introduced a Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
Schools wishing to have International Students study in their institution are required to make application to be a Signatory to this Code. Schools which failed to make a satisfactory application are not permitted to have International Students attend their institution.
Silverdale Normal School is an accepted signatory to the Code and, as such, the following safeguards are in place:
· International Students can be assured that they will be safe, well informed and properly cared for while attending our school.
· They must stay with a parent during their study in our school.
· The parents of all students have access to the services of a Code of Practice consultant
· The responsibilities of the Specialist Teacher / Co-ordinator are outlined in this document. She is available 24 hours a day by phoning (64 7) 856 2900 or in emergencies within New Zealand, 027 295 0000. She can also be contacted through the school by phoning 856 7604.
You may keep in touch with the School by viewing our website which has up to date information supplied through school newsletters and includes a map of the area showing the location of the school.
The school can also be contacted any time by e-mail: office@silverdale.school.nz
Parents of prospective International Students who would like to purchase accommodation in the Hillcrest / Silverdale area may contact the following agents by e-mail, some of whom have web pages with photographs
Those requiring rental accommodation, we suggest you contact
Silverdale Normal School
Procedure for International Fee Paying Students
Rationale
Silverdale Normal School accepts a small number of international full fee paying students each year and endeavours to ensure that the children, parents and staff find this a rewarding, educational experience.
Objectives
1. To ensure that all fee paying international students have the best possible learning opportunities while at Silverdale Normal School.
2. To ensure that all barriers to learning specific to these children are recognized and addressed.
3. To ensure that the school recognizes its responsibility to oversee the well being of all fee paying students enrolled at Silverdale Normal School and that the requirements concerning the care of these students, as set out in Ministry of Education Code of Practice For the Pastoral Care of International Students (revised in 2010), are met.
Guidelines
- Each year the school will offer a limited number of places to international fee paying students. All enrolments will be for a minimum of 6 weeks.
- Fees for international students will be reviewed and set by the Board of Trustees. The annual fee on enrolment will remain the same for the student throughout his/her schooling at Silverdale Normal School. At present the annual fee is $9,800.00 including GST. Short-term students are accepted for a minimum of six weeks. The fee for six weeks is $1,470.00 including GST. ($245.00 including GST per week.)
- Silverdale Normal School will take referrals from educational agents but will not pay commission to these agents.
- The Senior Leadership Team will have responsibility for matters relating to international fee paying students. They will delegate responsibilities for aspects of their learning and care.
- International students will be admitted at the discretion of the Senior Leadership Team. Factors taken into consideration when accepting a student will include availability of places in a particular class level and degree of English language support needed.
- International fee paying students will be given priority in English Language Learning programmes funded by their international fees.
- International students are required to pay tuition fees in advance. Long-term students (one term or more) will pay either annually or twice a year. Short-term students (less than one term) will pay for the length of their stay in advance.
- A student who withdraws from the school may apply for a refund of unused tuition fees. Refunds will have an administration fee of $150 deducted from any refund. This refund procedure is detailed in Attachment A. The School will notify the New Zealand Immigration Service if any student on a student permit withdraws.
- All full fee students are required to have a valid student permit for the duration of their enrolment.
- All full fees students are required to have medical insurance for the duration of their enrolment.
- Children of an international student undertaking a PhD in New Zealand and students whose parents are on scholarships funded by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs are now considered to be domestic students for the duration of their parent’s study. These students do not come under the Code of Practice. They are however required to have medical and travel insurance as their healthcare is not publicly funded.
Reference: Ministry of Education Code of Practice For the Pastoral Care of International Students (2003)
Attachment A:
Refund Policy for International Full Fee Students
1. If a student withdraws from the school before the stated completion date, the parent/guardian may apply for a refund of school fees.
2. An application for refund of tuition fees must be made in writing to the Board of Trustees explaining why the student has withdrawn from the school and the reasons for seeking a refund.
3. If the application for a refund is made before the stated commencement date, tuition fees will be refunded in full, less an administration charge of $150.00 to cover costs incurred by the school.
4. If the application for a refund is made after the stated commencement date, tuition fees will be refunded less:
- An administration charge of $150.00.
- Costs to school already incurred for tuition.
- Components of the fee already committed for the duration of the course, including the appropriate proportions of salaries of teachers and support staff.
- Costs already incurred for the use of facilities and resources.
- The proportion of the Government Levy the school is required to pay.
- Any other costs incurred.
5. No refund will be made to a student who is expelled from the school by the Board of Trustees.
6. A student who obtains permanent resident or domestic status during a term may apply for a refund from the start of the next term. The refund would be less any costs as listed in clause 4 above.
7. If the School is unable to provide, or to continue to deliver a suitable programme for the student, the tuition fees will be refunded in full.
Additional Points of Note
APPLICATIONS
- Preference will be given to long-term students.
- The minimum enrolment for short-term students is 6 weeks.
FEES
- International students are required to pay tuition fees in advance. Long-term students (one term or more) will pay either annually or twice a year. Short-term students (less than one term) will pay for the length of their stay in advance.
- Tuition fees are $9,800 including GST for one year. The school reserves the right to review these annually. However, the fee paid on enrolment will be the fee paid throughout the time the student is at Silverdale Normal School.
CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
- Silverdale Normal School has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://minedu.govt.nz.
HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
International students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand unless they are
- A resident or citizen of Australia; or
- A national of the United Kingdom in New Zealand; or
- The holder of a temporary permit that is valid for two years or more.
If you do not belong to one of these special categories and you receive medical treatment during your visit, you will be liable for the full costs of that treatment. For further information refer to the Ministry of Health website http://www.moh.govt.nz
If you do not fit the above exempt categories, we require that you have insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment in New Zealand. We also strongly recommend that you obtain insurance to cover your travel to and from New Zealand.
If you need any assistance with insurance, Southern Cross Insurance has a comprehensive insurance policy for International students.
Within New Zealand there is a toll free number 0800 800 571
For further information look up the web site http://www.internationalstudent.co.nz
IMMIGRATIOFull details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz
Complaints Procedures for International Students
What to do if you think the school has failed the Code.
Internal Procedures
Step One Contact the Principal and / or discuss the matter with Bernie Moffat, the specialist Teacher / Co-ordinator for students from overseas.
Step Two If the complaint is not dealt with to your satisfaction, you may ask the Board of Trustees to consider the matter.
Step Three If you believe the school has breached the Code of Practice and you have not been able to settle the matter following the school’s internal procedures, you may bring the matter to:
International Education Appeal Authority,
C/o- Ministry of Education,
Private Bag 47-911,
Wellington.
Short-term Stay, Students
A limited number of short-term stay students may be enrolled in any one year.
The following information applies to short-term student enrolments only.
· All short-term enrolled students are required to be living with a parent or legal guardian during their stay in New Zealand.
· There will be a limit of 10 students accepted as short-term students.
· Students will be provided with a programme suitable for their needs.
· The minimum enrolment period will be for six weeks. $1,620.00 is payable in advance, this includes and administration fee of $150.00.
· Students who withdraw from the programme with a genuine reason will be entitled to a refund of their fee less the standard administrative cost if they provide the Board of Trustees with evidence in writing.
· Students who withdraw from the programme in less than 6 weeks without a genuine reason, will not be eligible for any refund of fees.