Education and Training Act 2020, ss 78, 81,83; D v M and Board of Trustees of Auckland Grammar School (1998)
Yes. Suspensions, exclusions and expulsions are for only the most serious cases. The rules in the Education and Training Act give a range of responses for different situations. The board can stop the suspension and give you things you must do instead (“conditions”).
At the board meeting, you should be prepared to put forward things for the board to consider as possible conditions – for example:
in-school punishments such as detention or daily reports
counselling courses for things like anger management or quitting smoking
education courses on drugs or alcohol
a plan for you to use your particular skill set to assist teachers – for example, helping to coach a junior sports team, or helping an art teacher after school
a restorative justice approach – for example, holding a conference with all parties involved in the incident so that everyone can move forward. See “Restorative justice” earlier in this guide