For school principals
“Is this the version the board ratified?”
An inspector
Giraft keeps one dated record for every school policy: which version is in force, when the board ratified it and by how many votes, the page parents see, and which staff have acknowledged it.
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Policy record
Code of Behaviour
- Approved
- 4 of 5 votes, by personal link
- 14 Oct 2026
- Sealed
- The approved text, unchanged since approvalsha256:9f4c2b…3d8a01
- 14 Oct 2026
- Published
- Public policy pageFor parents and inspectors
- 15 Oct 2026
- Next review
- October 2027Reminders before the date passes
Staff acknowledgement
38 of 41staff acknowledged
- 38acknowledged
- 2waiting
- 1not asked yet
- Asked
- 15 Oct 2026
- New staff
- Asked automatically
How it works
How the record gets made
The record isn’t put together when someone asks. Each step adds its own dated line as the work happens.
- 0129 Sep
Draft
Start a new draft, or bring in the Word document you already have.
- 022 Oct
Comment
Every comment lands beside the text. You decide what changes.
- 0314 Oct
Approve
Board members vote from a link in their email.
- 0414 Oct
Seal
The approved words are sealed with the date.
- 0515 Oct
Publish
The version in force goes on your public policy page, for parents.
- 06Open
Acknowledge
Staff acknowledge from their email, and staff who join later are asked automatically.
Nothing is sent, approved or published until you say so.
From the same record
The other questions you’ll be asked
Each one is answered from the same register of policies.
“What is waiting on the board?”
The Admissions Policy, sent for ratification. You see every policy’s status at a glance.
Your policies
- Admissions PolicyBoard approval requested
- Critical Incident PolicyOut for comment
- Code of BehaviourPublished
“What is due for review next?”
The Child Safeguarding Statement, in three weeks. Giraft reminds you before a review date passes.
Next review
- Child Safeguarding StatementReview due in 3 weeks
- Bí Cineálta / Anti-Bullying PolicySept 2027
- Code of BehaviourOct 2027
“Who hasn’t acknowledged it yet?”
Three of 41: two are waiting, and one hasn’t been asked yet. You see it person by person.
Still to do
- Maria KellyWaiting
- Rónán DohertyWaiting
- Úna BrennanNot asked yet
“Can parents find the current version?”
Yes. Your public policy page always shows the version in force, and you link to it from your school website.
Public policy page
- Code of BehaviourVersion 3
- Child Safeguarding StatementVersion 2
- Bí Cineálta / Anti-Bullying PolicyVersion 1
The law
A summary of the law, not legal advice.
Where a record helps
A record supports accountability. It doesn’t prove every duty was met.
The principal
The principal manages the school day to day, directs its staff and carries out its admission policy, in line with the policies the board sets, and is accountable to the board for that management.
Education Act 1998, s.23
Oversight, and what can follow
The board of management. Inspectors evaluate the school's leadership and management (s.13).
What Giraft can show
Which policies the board approved, and when, and who on staff has acknowledged each one.
Child protection
The principal is usually the Designated Liaison Person, and gives the board a Child Protection Oversight Report at every meeting. The board reviews the Child Safeguarding Statement each calendar year.
Child Protection Procedures for Schools 2025, §4.4 and §9.11
Oversight, and what can follow
Department inspectors check child protection in every inspection, including unannounced ones, and the reports are published.
What Giraft can show
The statement in force, each year's review, its public page and who on staff has acknowledged it.
Anti-bullying
The principal gives the board a bullying behaviour update at each ordinary board meeting. The board adopts the Bí Cineálta policy, reviews it with the school community each calendar year, and publishes it on the school's website.
Circular 0055/2024
Oversight, and what can follow
The board of management.
What Giraft can show
The policy in force, when the board approved it, its next review and its public page.
Code of behaviour
Before registering a child, the principal gives the parents a copy of the code of behaviour, and may ask them to confirm in writing that they accept it.
Education (Welfare) Act 2000, s.23(4)
Oversight, and what can follow
Tusla's Education Support Service sets the code's guidelines, and parents can appeal an expulsion (Education Act 1998, s.29).
What Giraft can show
The code in force, and the public page to send parents to.
Inspection
Department inspectors evaluate how the school is run and the quality of teaching and learning. The board and staff must cooperate, and the Chief Inspector publishes the reports.
Education Act 1998, s.13; S.I. 153/2015
Oversight, and what can follow
The Inspectorate, under the Chief Inspector.
What Giraft can show
One record of every policy to hand over.
A summary of the law, not legal advice.
Questions
- 01
Does the record make our school compliant?
No record can. It shows what was done and when: which version the board ratified, by how many votes, and who acknowledged it. Meeting each duty stays with the board and the school.
- 02
Does the board need accounts?
No. Each member votes from a personal link in their email: no account, no password.
- 03
Is it for national and secondary schools?
Yes. The board ratifies, staff acknowledge and parents see the version in force, the same way in both.
- 04
Can we bring the policies we already have?
Yes, as Word documents. Each one then gets the same record as any other.
Have the answer ready before the question.
We’ll walk you through Giraft with your school’s own policies, and show you the record it keeps for your board.
Contact us