I give notice that, pursuant to sections 387 and 382(h) of the Education Act 1989, the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand will issue the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession to take effect from 30 June 2017.

In meeting the legislative requirements, the Code of Professional Responsibility is the code of conduct referred to in section 387 of the Education Act 1989. The Standards for the Teaching Profession are the standards for ongoing practice and criteria for the issue of practising certificates of different kinds referred to in section 382(h) of the Education Act 1989.

The Code of Professional Responsibility sets out the high standards of integrity and professional behaviour expected of all members of the teaching profession. The Code of Professional Responsibility will be binding on all teachers who hold a practising certificate and on all authorised persons. It replaces the Code of Ethics for Certificated Teachers.

The Standards for the Teaching Profession describe the essential holistic components of effective teaching practice in New Zealand. They serve as a benchmark to guide everyday practice, a tool to guide appraisal and a framework for lifelong professional learning and development. Over time teachers will be required to meet the Standards for the Teaching Profession in order to be issued with and to renew a full or subject to confirmation practising certificate. For new graduates, the Graduating Teacher Standards will apply until such time as the Education Council makes changes to its Initial Teacher Education requirements.

Together the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession articulate the high standards of teaching and ethical practice expected of all teachers, thereby providing learners, their families and whānau, and the public with high levels of trust and confidence in the teaching profession.

The Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession are available from the Education Council website at www.educationcouncil.org.nz.

Dated at Auckland this 21st day of June 2017.

BARBARA ALA’ALATOA, Chair, Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.