Regulating non-government schools
Find out how to register a non-government school and meet regulations and registration standards.
The ACT Government regulates non-government schools.
There are 47 non-government schools registered to operate in the ACT:
- 18 independent schools
- 29 Catholic systemic schools.
If you want to operate a non-government school in the ACT you must be registered.
Search the register of non-government schools in the ACT.
Learn more about non-government schools in the ACT.
Read public notices for registrations of non-government schools in the ACT.
Understand the regulations
ACT non-government schools operate under the:
In 2022, the Education Act was amended to put in place:
- a regulatory framework
- registration standards
- a Registration Standards Advisory Board.
On 10 April 2025, the Education Act 2004 was amended to allow the Minister for Education and Early Childhood to shorten the 60-day public notification period for registerable change applications when it is reasonably necessary to do so.
This change to section 98 (Registration amendment – application) enables a decision to happen quickly in urgent circumstances to ensure continuity of education for students, their families and for staff.
These provisions require a minimum notification period of 7 days. They will be repealed automatically at the end of 2025.
Downloads
Read more about the regulation of non-government schools:
How to register a non-government school
The Minister for Education and Early Childhood approves applications to register a non-government school in the ACT.
To register a non-government school, you need to:
- get in-principle approval
- apply to register a school.
Get in-principle approval
Submit the in-principle approval application form [PDF 551 KB].
The school proprietor must email the form to NonGovSchools@act.gov.au.
You need to apply at least 2 years (but not more than 4 years) before the proposed start date.
Apply to register a school
Once you have in-principle approval, you can submit the registration application form [PDF 581 KB].
The school proprietor must email the form to NonGovSchools@act.gov.au.
You need to apply at least 9 months before the proposed start date.
Once the school is registered, you'll need to meet certain obligations.
Obligations of registered schools
The school must:
- have a principal
- meet registration standards
- keep records about complying with registration standards.
The registration standards cover:
- governance
- educational courses and programs
- safety and welfare of students
- other operational requirements.
The school proprietor is responsible for compliance with the conditions of registration including the registration standards.
Governance standards
The school must be both a corporation and a registered not-for-profit entity.
The school’s governance structure must help it to:
- fulfil its legal obligations
- be financially viable
- operate safely
- report annually on compliance with the registration standards
- review complaints and safety incidents
- publish the annual statement of compliance
- publish policies about enrolment, complaints, and student behaviour management.
Curriculum standards
The school must meet the registration standards for educational programs.
This includes:
- the curriculum
- assessing, monitoring, recording, and reporting student educational performance.
Safety standards
The school must meet safety and welfare standards for:
- students
- members of staff
- other people involved in running the school.
This includes:
- compliance with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
- student attendance
- student behaviour management.
Operational standards
The school must comply with:
- all territory and commonwealth laws
- registration standards relating to running the school.
This includes:
- Working with Vulnerable People registration
- meeting building requirements
- having an emergency management plan.
Notify us of changes
Let the registrar know:
- within 5 days about changes due to a natural disaster or emergency
- within 7 days about changes to the proprietor, principal or chair of the school’s governing body.
Let the registrar know 6 months before about:
- stopping operations, an education level or residential boarding services
- restarting operations, an education level or residential boarding services, within 2 years of stopping.
Submit the notification about changes form [PDF 989 KB].
The school proprietor must email the form to NonGovSchools@act.gov.au.
Changes to school registration
You must apply at least 9 months in advance if you want to:
- operate the school at a new campus
- provide a new education level at a registered campus
- provide residential boarding services
- transfer to a new proprietor.
Submit the registration amendment form [PDF 1 MB].
The school proprietor must email the form to NonGovSchools@act.gov.au.
Take part in the census
A census of all ACT schools is conducted in February each year.
This census provides data on ACT student enrolments at a specific point in time.
For all the steps read the non-government school census procedures manual [PDF 507 KB].
You can provide data using the census return template [XLSX 21 KB].
Contact us
Email
NonGovSchools@act.gov.au