International Students
Enrolment and Application
Parents of international students need to complete the Birkenhead Primary School International Student Enrolment Form, the Birkenhead Primary School Application Form and then the Ministry of Education Enrolment form for a New Zealand School. Before enrolling, please read the following important information.
At the time of inquiry, we require:
To enrol the student, we require:
If all requirements are met, we will accept the student. An initial payment of at least two term’s fees will be required. (The first term’s fees are non-refundable. The school will invoice for subsequent terms.)
On payment of two term’s fees, we will provide a letter offering a place at Birkenhead Primary School. Parents can then apply to the Department of Immigration for a student permit to to allow the student to study at Birkenhead Primary School.
At the time of inquiry, we require:
- Proof that the international student will be living in NZ with a parent or legal guardian - NOT a designated caregiver.
- Copies of parent and student passports to show the immigration status of the parents and the student
- Proof of the student's birth date
- The student's level of English language speaking and comprehension – none, beginner, or intermediate
- An indication of how long the student will be staying at Birkenhead Primary School
To enrol the student, we require:
- Contact numbers and addresses for both of the child’s parents (including an email address for a parent not living in New Zealand) and, the name of an interpreter, if that might be required.
- A valid student visa
- Proof of the student's comprehensive NZ based Health insurance policy – the document needs to be in English.
- An immunisation certificate for the student
If all requirements are met, we will accept the student. An initial payment of at least two term’s fees will be required. (The first term’s fees are non-refundable. The school will invoice for subsequent terms.)
On payment of two term’s fees, we will provide a letter offering a place at Birkenhead Primary School. Parents can then apply to the Department of Immigration for a student permit to to allow the student to study at Birkenhead Primary School.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FEE PROTECTION & REFUNDS
1. Procedure for fee protection
International Student fees will be accounted for separately, consistent with normal accounting practice, in such a way that individual student payments can be monitored, and so that refunds can be made in the event that the school can no longer provide programmes for International Students.
International Student fees will be paid into the “Foreign Fee” account and may be drawn down at intervals of one term in arrears throughout the school year.
2. Procedure for fee refunds
International Student Fees are non-refundable for the first term’s tuition, and thereafter, refunds will be approved at the discretion of the Board. Requests for refunds must be made in writing.
Fees will be refunded if the child’s status changes to “Domestic”, or if there is a genuine reason (illness of the student or a family member, leaving NZ, having to move within NZ, or other special circumstance) less:
International Student Enrolment Form
Download the Birkenhead Primary School International Student Enrolment Form. If you have questions about the application or enrolment process, please contact us.
Conditions of Acceptance
International students are invited into the school on the following conditions:
If a student’s attendance becomes erratic or a student is absent from school for 20 consecutive days, then he/she will be removed from the school roll, and the Department of Immigration will be notified.
Termination
If an international student wins residency, or his/her parents win a work permit, and the student no longer has to pay international student fees, the student does not have an automatic right to stay at the school, if they do not live in the school’s enrolment zone. A student can continue to study at the school if a place is available. School donations are expected when a child ceases to be an international student.
Code of Practice
Birkenhead Primary School has also agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral care of International Students, published by the Minister of Education.
Download the Code of Practice (PDF) or visit the Ministry of Education website at www.minedu.govt.nz for more information. Download a short summary pamphet (PDF) in English or in other languages.
1. Procedure for fee protection
International Student fees will be accounted for separately, consistent with normal accounting practice, in such a way that individual student payments can be monitored, and so that refunds can be made in the event that the school can no longer provide programmes for International Students.
International Student fees will be paid into the “Foreign Fee” account and may be drawn down at intervals of one term in arrears throughout the school year.
2. Procedure for fee refunds
International Student Fees are non-refundable for the first term’s tuition, and thereafter, refunds will be approved at the discretion of the Board. Requests for refunds must be made in writing.
Fees will be refunded if the child’s status changes to “Domestic”, or if there is a genuine reason (illness of the student or a family member, leaving NZ, having to move within NZ, or other special circumstance) less:
- fees for tuition to date on a pro-rata basis
- money owing to the school
- not be living with his/her parents/legal guardian
- not have a current student permit
- display repeated poor behaviour or
- have consistently poor attendance.
International Student Enrolment Form
Download the Birkenhead Primary School International Student Enrolment Form. If you have questions about the application or enrolment process, please contact us.
Conditions of Acceptance
International students are invited into the school on the following conditions:
- That the child respects the rights of others – does not hurt others, and does not damage school property.
- That the child takes part in all curriculum activities.
- That the child is accepted into the existing structure of the school.
- That the parents accept the basic procedures of the school.
- That the child does not automatically have a place at the school when he/she is no longer an International student, if he/she does not live in the school’s enrolment zone.
If a student’s attendance becomes erratic or a student is absent from school for 20 consecutive days, then he/she will be removed from the school roll, and the Department of Immigration will be notified.
Termination
- If a family or student give false information, then the student will be excluded.
- If the school decides that the student’s needs are not able to be met, then the student will be excluded and a refund given.
- If a student’s behaviour is unsatisfactory, then the student will be excluded.
- If the student’s only NZ based parent/legal guardian leaves NZ for any reason, the school must be informed before they leave, so that the school can consider whether or not the contract can continue.
If an international student wins residency, or his/her parents win a work permit, and the student no longer has to pay international student fees, the student does not have an automatic right to stay at the school, if they do not live in the school’s enrolment zone. A student can continue to study at the school if a place is available. School donations are expected when a child ceases to be an international student.
Code of Practice
Birkenhead Primary School has also agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral care of International Students, published by the Minister of Education.
Download the Code of Practice (PDF) or visit the Ministry of Education website at www.minedu.govt.nz for more information. Download a short summary pamphet (PDF) in English or in other languages.
