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Standard 2: Create inclusive, caring and safe schools

Pillar: Equity. Model: inclusive leadership. Create inclusive, caring and safe schools. They support learning and development, and the safety and well-being of all students and staff.

What this standard expects

Step 1: Create welcoming, inclusive schools where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity and respect, and sees themselves reflected.
Step 2: Lead ethically, with equity, honesty, integrity and professionalism in everything you do.
Step 3: Provide inclusive education and special education that meet every student’s needs. This includes students with special educational needs (SEN).
Step 4: Keep schools safe, secure and orderly, so teaching and learning can thrive.
Step 5: Build caring school communities that put the well-being of students, staff and leaders first, with varied supports.
Step 6: Increase positive behaviour by teaching it explicitly, enforcing it consistently and providing behavioural supports.
Step 7: Use preventative and progressive discipline, including anti-bullying programmes and progressive discipline policies.

Leadership domains

Welcoming, inclusive schools; ethical, values-centred leadership; inclusive education and special education; caring, safe schools; student and staff well-being; positive student behaviour; preventative and progressive student discipline.

Back to the five standards at a glance.

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The law and policy behind this

Both practice guidesSection 7 in both guides · draft of 27 May 2026

Not yet checked by a Ministry editor