School insurance

While some school buildings and property are included as part of the Ministry's cover, property, assets and resources beyond this coverage (referred to as overcode) require additional insurance. Sports facilities, landscaping, additional buildings and classrooms, and other community-funded assets can be a huge part of the school and its community. Material damage and business interruption cover can help ensure these are protected and that you can continue to operate if something happens.

Material damage 

A material damage policy can cover the repair, replacement or rebuild of:

• Overcode buildings
• Contents
• Paths and landscaping
• Artificial turfs, asphalt courts and other courts and structures used for sports activities
• Playgrounds, shade structures and equipment fixed outdoors

Business interruption

While you’re fixing your damaged property, business interruption insurance gives you financial assistance to help get your school operations back on track as quickly as possible by covering:  

• Hiring temporary equipment or furniture
• Recreating lost records and data
• Temporary relocation of your administration team

The policy can also cover loss of revenue from students, including international students, as a consequence of damage to buildings or other property owned or used by the school insured under a material damage policy. If there’s damage to property you hire out to the community, your business interruption policy can cover you for loss of income, money or property

Liability insurance covers the legal cost of defending a liability claim, and the compensation that you may be directed to pay injured or wronged parties. The following insurance policies cover a range of circumstances where your school could be liable.   

• Public liability - protects your school against liability for accidental damage to other people’s property, as well as for injury to others.
• Statutory liability - covers your defence costs and any penalties you may be required to pay, if there’s an unintended breach of a New Zealand statute (certain statutes are excluded).
• Employer’s liability - when an employee is injured, your school can be held legally liable for damages. Employer’s liability insurance covers costs which are not covered by ACC.
• Fidelity cover - covers losses that occur due to dishonest or fraudulent acts by employees or volunteers (acting on your behalf).

Employment disputes are one of the most common type of claims, we see from schools. Situations that can lead to employment disputes include:

• Restructures
• Redundancies
• Performance issues
• Disciplinary processes
• Dismissals

Employment disputes insurance covers legal costs arising from personal grievance claims, where approved lawyers are used, and can cover settlements and award of damages where a claim is successful.

The New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) provides advice at no cost, to help guide schools through the correct procedure when handling employment disputes. It is important you contact them early in the process, so you don’t prejudice the outcome of any claim, and to comply with the conditions of your insurance policy.

Professional indemnity insurance covers amounts you may have to pay if your school is found to have negligently breached its professional duty when it comes to: 

• Enrolment procedures
• Implementing education curricula
• Suspending or expelling students

A public relations extension to professional indemnity cover is also available for accessing PR expertise to help with risk management, or manage a crisis related to a potential or an actual insurance claim.

Schools can be a common target for cyber criminals, due to their reliance on IT and high number of users. Cyber attacks are disruptive, upsetting and can lead to serious reputational damage for your school. 

Our cyber security insurance policies can help cover losses and costs incurred in the event of an attack, and also provide you with access to experts to help  with all aspects of recovery.  

• About cyber insurance

Motor vehicle insurance

Our school motor insurance policy covers vehicles owned by the school, or personal vehicles that are owned by staff, volunteers or parents while being used for school activities, as long as they are not otherwise insured. The insurance covers: 

• Repair of damaged vehicle
• Replacement of vehicle where it is stolen or can't be repaired
• Damage caused to the property of others if you are legally liable 
• Emergency accommodation and travel costs

Drive On – roadside assistance 

Drive On is an optional add-on solution for schools with our motor vehicle policy, offering 24 hour vehicle breakdown assistance. 

SaferSchools+ is a comprehensive risk management service designed to help schools build, strengthen, and maintain effective health and safety programmes.

Delivered by Gallagher’s experienced health and safety specialists, SaferSchools+ supports schools in meeting their compliance obligations while creating a safe and well-managed environment for staff, students, and visitors.

We can arrange one off or annual travel insurance policies that cover students and sports teams on school trips and events, in New Zealand and overseas.