Attendance and Absences

Attendance - a message from our Principal

It’s always wonderful to have our students in classrooms, ready to engage and learn. Our teachers and school staff are committed to fostering growth and opportunity, and we are here to work with you to support your child to reach their full potential.

Consistently going to school has countless benefits – from learning, to creating social connections and improving wellbeing through access to support and quality education.

Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, I’d like to remind our school community that we are here to work with you to support your child to thrive. We know that families experience a variety of challenging circumstances, and we are committed to working with you to address any barriers to regular attendance.

Thank you for being a part of our school community and for partnering with us to ensure students access the endless benefits of regular school attendance.

Important attendance information from the Department of Education

In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.

After Year 10 and until they turn 17, students must be:

• in school or registered for home schooling or
• in approved education or training (e.g. TAFE, traineeship, apprenticeship) or
• in full-time, paid employment (average 25 hours/week) or
• in a combination of work, education and/or training.

Enrolled students 17 years and over are required to attend school regularly to meet Higher School Certificate course requirements.

More information on compulsory school attendance is available below.

• Compulsory school attendance - information for parents

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

• School Attendance Policy
• Student wellbeing – compulsory school attendance.

Absences

Parents must provide an explanation for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. Where an explanation has not been received within the 7 day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unexplained on the student's record.

If your son is absent from school, please Contact us and let us know why as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school, like when they are unwell. Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible, and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.

If your child is feeling anxious about coming to school and you need support, please reach out to your child’s year adviser or contact the front office. There are also helpful resources for parents and carers on the NSW Department of Education website.

School refusal - Support available to help your child’s attendance

We know that it can sometimes be challenging getting your child to school, especially if they are experiencing anxiety or refusing to attend school.

They might be worried about their schoolwork, their friendship circles, playing sports or being away from their family. If you are concerned about your child's attendance at school or any other issues that may affect their attendance.

We are here to support you and your son to make sure they are ready and engaged at school.

You can also access resources on the department website to support positive conversations with your child about attending school.

If you speak a language other than English and need help talking with our staff, please telephone the interpreter service on 131 450. This service is free. Listen in your language or see How to contact the Telephone Interpreter Service.