Policy title:
Published:
Identifier:
Legislation:
Procedures:
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS
2014
TCS201406
Education Act 2004
Emergencies Act 2004
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Emergency and Incident Management Operational Framework
School Emergency Management Plan
School Best Practice & Accountability Toolkit
Bush Fire Preparation Check List (Bushfire Package)
Managing High Temperatures in ACT Public Schools
1.
POLICY STATEMENT
Temporary closure of a public school in the ACT may occur where there is an immediate or
imminent threat to the physical health or safety of students, staff or community members.
Principals are obliged under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to ensure that all
practicable steps are taken to protect the health and safety of the school community.
1.1.
The Director General, Emergency Management Directorate Liaison Officers and School
Network Leaders have the authority to close a school on a temporary basis.
1.2.
School closure may be due to school specific circumstances but are not exclusive of the
following situations:
 emergency or critical incident;
 risk to health or safety;
 identification of asbestos;
 burst water pipe; and/or
 power failure.
1.3.
A lead agency may recommend the temporary closure of schools in prescribed
circumstances. A prescribed circumstance includes but is not exclusive to the following
situations:
 emergency or critical incident;
 risk to health or safety;
 instruction from the Chief Medical Officer of the Health Directorate;
 epidemic/pandemic;
 industrial action;
 days of persistent extreme weather conditions (thermal comfort); and/or
 where a facility has been identified for closure during an extreme or catastrophic
fire danger rating.
Temporary Closure of Schools - TCS201406 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is
the current and complete document, located at http://www.det.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/policy_a-z
Version: 11 June 2014
Page 1 of 3
2.
RATIONALE
2.1.
The Directorate has a duty of care to protect the safety of individuals on school premises
and has the discretion to temporarily close a school in circumstances referred to in 1.2 and
1.3 above.
3.
DEFINITIONS
3.1.
School includes ACT Public pre-schools, primary schools, high schools and colleges.
3.2.
Critical Incident refers to any situation that poses an immediate threat to the safety of
students and staff.
3.3.
Emergency refers to an actual or imminent threat which requires a significant and
coordinated Directorate response (e.g. pandemic, elevated fire danger).
3.4.
Incident
A localised event which can be dealt with by a business unit within normal operating
resources (e.g. isolated report of notifiable diseases).
4.
LEGISLATION
4.1.
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
The legal obligations for the health and safety of all students, staff and community.
4.2.
Emergency Control (Australian Standards AS 3745 – 2010)
The standards for emergency control organisation and procedures for buildings,
structures and workplaces.
4.3.
Safe Work Australia Act 2008
The health and safety requirements and workers compensation arrangements in Australia.
4.4.
Public Sector Management Act 1994 (including section 9)
The values and general principles which public servants must adhere to in their day to day
work.
5.
PROCEDURES
5.1.
Approval for the temporary closure of a school in relation to school specific circumstances
may be provided to a principal verbally by the appropriate School Network Leader. Written
verification must be provided to the relevant Principal by the School Network Leader within
two working days. This documentation must be kept on file by both the Principal and the
Office for Schools (School Network Leader).
5.2.
Directives regarding temporary school closures in prescribed circumstances are managed by
an identified lead agency. Schools are to refer to the Education and Training Directorate
(the Directorate) Incident /Emergency Management Framework in these events.
5.3.
In the event of a temporary school closure, Principals must:
 consult with the relevant School Network Leader;
 ensure parents of each child are notified. Notification may, in certain
circumstances, include a written note to parents, visible signs at school entrances,
social media, radio or television announcement and/or advertisement in
Temporary Closure of Schools - TCS201406 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is
the current and complete document, located at http://www.det.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/policy_a-z
Version: 11 June 2014
Page 2 of 3



newspapers. Schools are not to rely solely on written notices or notification by
social media;
when a school is closed at short notice (within one full working day), two staff
members determined by the principal must remain at the school to provide care for
students who remain at school or who may arrive after the temporary closure has
commenced. Students must not be sent home without prior notice to parents;
mark school rolls to reflect the schools status as temporarily closed; and
document the circumstances of the temporary school closure and retain this
information on an official school file together with the written authority to close
the school.
5.4.
In the event that a school is to be closed on a temporary basis the following protocols and
plans may be utilised to assist with this course of action:

School Emergency Management Plans - provide schools and the Directorate with
site specific guidelines in relation to managing emergencies;

Bushfire Package- Temporary School Closure During an Elevated Fire Danger Rating
– provide schools and the Directorate with protocols to be implemented during
bushfire season when an elevated fire danger rating is declared (posted on Index);

The Directorate Emergency/Incident Notification Framework - provide schools and
the Directorate with a framework and overview of roles and responsibilities
involved with the notification of an emergency/incident and for any response
/action if required.
6.
POLICY OWNER
Director, Governance and Assurance
7.
RELATED POLICIES
Industrial Action Affecting the Operation of Schools Policy
Managing High Temperatures in ACT Public Schools
Temporary Closure of Schools - TCS201406 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is
the current and complete document, located at http://www.det.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/policy_a-z
Version: 11 June 2014
Page 3 of 3