For discretionary leave please apply to the Headmaster in writing as a first step.

All leave decisions are delegated to the Headmaster except for MOE Study Grants and Sabbaticals.

For all discretionary leave, the Hedmaster's written approval is required.

When considering leave applications, the Headmaster will consider the matters below which should be addressed in any application to him.

• Ter,ms of the relevant collective agreement

• Any other legal provisions such as the Holidays Act

• Purpose of the leave

• Length of service of the staff member at CBHS

• Contribution to the wider life of the school

• Impact on the staff member’s current classes

• Relief costs incurred

• Leave with or without pay

• Conflict with key school events

The various types of leave available to staff are set out in the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement and Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement. These agreements set out the various types of leave available to teachers and eligibility criteria.  

Features to note about the various types of leave are:

1. Sick Leave - a teacher’s sick leave depends on length of service:

   • NOTE: in NZ unused sick leave cannot be paid out.

   • NOTE: Relief costs for any leave taken beyond the first 8 days can be claimed back from the MOE resources. This needs to be done within a term of the teacher returning.

   • Medical certificates are usually not required until 5 days but an employer can request one after 3 days (at the employer’s cost.)

   • Disregarded Sick Leave, which can be applied for if a teacher feels, and can prove, that sickness is due to conditions at their place of work, among other reasons.

2. Parental Leave - as per the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 with variations to length of notice (one month), an extension of time (up to 24 months) and notice of intention to return (one month).

3. Bereavement Leave - there are no set number of days "reasonable opportunity to discharge their obligations and/or pay their respects ...".

4. Leave for Family Reasons - specific reasons for leave in addition to sick leave.

5. Refreshment Leave – this is unpaid and mentions length of service to be eligible:

   • One term after 3 full years in the school and up to one year after 5 years in the school.

   • A formula for how many staff can have this in any given year.

   • Also includes ability to find a suitable replacement.

6. Special Leave - this includes leave for court duty, sporting and cultural representation and study (refer below). Also paid Sabbatical Leave (50 per year nationally, 10 weeks duration) and Sabbatical Leave for Senior Managers (10 per year).

7. Travelling Time - for various leave.

8. Other forms of leave – not stated in Part Six but which can be applied for and granted by a school.

Extra Comments on Study Leave

Formal paid study leave available to teachers comes in two forms:

1. Study Leave - there are 75FTE fulltime study awards available nationally each year. This is leave on pay for the period of the study being covered by the MOE.

2. Study Support Grants - there are 100 of these available nationally each year to permanent teachers. Rate is 0.16FTE (4 hours per week) and $500 towards the fees of any courses taken in the year upon completion of the course(s).

Points for Consideration:

1. As a good employer, the school should be encouraging the professional growth of our teachers.

2. Once Study Awards and Support grants are given to teachers, the school needs to accommodate this in our staffing formula.

3. The school does have a chance during the application process NOT to support an application.

4. Features to take into account with study applications could include length of time at CBHS but more importantly the future value the school will gain from the staff member.

5. Only Refreshment Leave states pre-requisites of service in a school.

Approving Authority: SLT

Date Approved: December 2025

Next Review Date: December 2028