Attendance

Attendance and absences

Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.

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 and remain in school, employment or training until they turn 17.

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

·         School Attendance Policy

·         Student wellbeing – compulsory school attendance.

Missing school means your child misses out on vital information and maintaining learning routines. This can result in a loss of confidence and missing out on forming vital friendships.

Attendance is recorded each day. As a parent or caregiver, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day, including sports days unless your child:

·         has an unavoidable medical or dental appointment (preferably these should be made after school or during holidays)

·         is required to attend a recognised religious holiday

·         is required to attend an exceptional or urgent family circumstance (such as attending a funeral)

·         is sick, or has an infectious illness.

If you are having difficulty getting your child to attend school regularly, you might like to talk to the school principal or the school counselor.

If your child has to be absent from school for any reason, including arriving late or leaving early, please either tell your child's teacher or the administrative assistant at our school, or explain the reason by phone, email, or write a note as soon as possible and within seven days.

Duty of Parents - NSW Education Act (1990)

Section 22 of the NSW Education Act (1990) requires parents to:

• enrol their child at a government school, or registered non-government school or register them with the New South Wales Education and Standards  Authority (NESA) for home schooling, if they are between the ages of 6 to 17 years
• ensure their children maintain a regular pattern of attendance at school.

Managing school absenteeism

Schools can assist students to attend school all day, every school day. They use a number of strategies to monitor and improve student attendance rates such as:

• developing a positive school culture,
• communicating high expectations of attendance with students and families,
• monitoring student absences and attendance and
• providing intervention and support.