Independent school registration (private school)

A buyer of a private school meets this when asking whether the school may lawfully keep operating under new ownership. This entry covers British Columbia and Ontario only; check the rules where the school is.

British Columbia

Section 19 of the Independent School Act bars operating an independent school without a certificate of group classification. On application by an authority, the inspector of independent schools must issue or renew a certificate classifying the school into groups if satisfied the requirements are met. The inspector may attach conditions to a certificate, and may cancel or suspend it if the authority fails to comply with the Act or breaches a condition. The authority can appeal a refusal or cancellation to the minister.

Ontario

Under section 16 of the Education Act, no private school shall be operated in Ontario unless notice of intention to operate has been submitted. The notice must go to the Ministry annually, on or before 1 September.

• Who holds the certificate or files the notice, and will that stay the same after closing?
• Are any conditions attached to the certificate?

See what licences transfer when I buy a business, and the entry on licence re-application.