Implementation of Mandatory Attendance and Absentee Procedures
According to the Education Act 1990 all children from 6 years of age and under the minimum school leaving age of 17 are legally required to attend school. Parents of compulsory school aged children have the obligation that their children attend school regularly. Parents are also required to explain absences in writing of their children from school promptly and within seven days to the school.
Regular attendance at school is essential if students are to maximize their potential. Schools, in partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.
Involvement in private lessons/activities conducted outside the school during school hours may not be conducive to the effective operation of the school or education of the student. Student’s involvement in extra-curricular activities will usually be limited to outside school hours. Where attendance at a private lesson during school hours is of exceptional importance, Principals may use their discretion in justifying the absence. This provision must not be used on a regular basis.
Attendance from 8.50am to 3.05pm is compulsory for all school aged children. Children who continually arrive late or leave early find it difficult to settle. It is extremely disruptive to their individual routine as well as the routine of other students. Principals have been asked to investigate more than three occurrences of late arrival or early departure. Please note more than 15 days absence in a school year requires an Exemption of Attendance. The exemption is provided by the Principal.
When students arrive after 8.50am or leave before the designated dismissal time of 3.05pm parents are required to submit an entry in the Compass Kiosk which acknowledges the partial absence. The student then takes a receipt to the class teacher. In the event of a student being absent from school, an entry needs to be submitted via the Compass app by the parent.
Generally leave will not be granted for family holidays taken during school term. An exception of this may be that family circumstances are such that the Principal considers that the holiday would be in the best interests of the children. Parents who wish to seek exemption from school attendance for their child/children to go on vacations during school term need to make application by completing and submitting an Application for Exemption from School Attendance form. These forms are available from the Principal. This is a mandatory requirement of the government and the Catholic Schools Broken Bay.
The power to exempt students in Catholic systemic schools for a period more than 100 days in a 12 month period currently remains with the Minister of Education. Applications should be forwarded through the Catholic Schools Broken Bay to the Catholic Education Commission.