Schools' risk management

Requirement for insurance

Boards are required to insure all school assets other than land and buildings owned by the Crown. Boards can opt to insure with a private insurance company or join the Ministry’s Risk Management Scheme (contents and liability insurance).

Scheme overview

The Risk Management Scheme provides cover for the ‘contents’ of the school and has an extensive liability programme. Boards of state and integrated schools are eligible to be members of the Risk Management Scheme.

Scheme levy

The Risk Management Scheme (contents and liability insurance) levy is deducted quarterly from each participating school’s operational funding entitlement. If the board is a member of the scheme, its Operational Funding Entitlement Notice under the heading "Risk Management" will detail the deduction amount.

The levy is $8.18 per pupil per annum.

How to become a member of the scheme

If the board is not a member of the scheme and wishes to join, it should complete the Risk Management Scheme Application Form. Boards can join the scheme at any time during the year.

This form can be downloaded from www.lumley.co.nz or the Risk Management Scheme section.

Once the application has been approved by the Ministry of Education, the board should cancel its existing insurance policy.

Maintaining membership to the scheme

Boards do not need to renew membership from year to year. However, it is recommended that boards review their school’s insurance needs regularly to ensure they have the coverage required.

Claims

Please contact the following if you have a claim to make:

Specific insurance enquiries

Specific questions in relation to any of the insurances under the scheme or information about any assets or other areas that fall outside of the scheme’s cover can be directed to Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), the scheme’s insurance broker, on 0800 293 031 Select option 2.

New schools

All new schools are, by default, automatic members of the scheme. Establishment boards will not be levied during a school’s establishment phase.

Once a school is open and operational, boards will need to choose to either remain with the scheme and be levied by the Ministry or opt to secure its own insurance arrangements.

Leaving the Risk Management Scheme

Boards may withdraw from the scheme at any time during the year but must include evidence that alternative cover has been secured when submitting its withdrawal form to the Ministry.

The Risk Management Scheme withdrawal form can be found on the Resourcing Forms page.

Boards that receive approval to withdraw from the Ministry Risk Management Scheme will receive a refund of the per pupil deduction for the part of the year for which alternative cover has been arranged.

Further information

Further information on the Risk Management Scheme is available on the Risk Management Scheme page or from Lumley's website www.lumley.co.nz/fendoff

You may also direct enquiries to

Resourcing Division
Phone 04-463 8383
Fax 04-463 8374
Email resourcing@minedu.govt.nz