Planning at whole school level involves the development of both curriculum plans (a process whereby the school community collaboratively defines intended learning outcomes, assessments, content and pedagogic requirements necessary for student success across an entire curriculum) and organisational policies (where policies that affect the running of the school in a non teaching capacity are developed).
Section 21 of the Education Act (1998) mandates that schools shall make arrangements for the preparation of a plan and shall ensure that the plan is regularly reviewed and updated. The school plan shall be prepared in accordance with such directions, including directions relating to consultation with the parents, the patron, staff and students of the school, as may be given from time to time by the Minister in relation to school plans. The Act also requires schools to plan in accordance with the most recent departmental updates and to communicate the plan and organisational policies to all stakeholders, including parents. School planning therefore is based on the rationale that planning should address identified priorities from within the school itself, based on knowledge of the learning needs of the student.