Every day counts! Students who attend school all day, every day learn better and achieve more positive outcomes. Regular attendance and punctuality is necessary for students to achieve the best results possible.
At Heatley Secondary College, our expectation is that all students will attend school every day. Student attendance is monitored daily. Students meeting the expectations are acknowledged and students who have been identified with unexplained absences are supported to improve their attendance.
If an absence is unavoidable, it must be explained.
Full day absence
Parents are required to report each full day absence, including the student name, year level, date of absence and reason for absence by one of the following options:
- sending a text to 0429 323 691 (24 hours a day)
- calling 4726 8304 (option to leave a voicemail if not answered)
- send an email to absences
- respond to the daily text messages sent by the school indicating that your student is not in class
Late arrivals
Students who arrive during Den should go directly to their usual Den classroom where they will be marked on the roll by their Den teacher. Students arriving after roll marking finishes (9.10am), must report to the student services counter at the main administration office to be signed in by a staff member. They will be given a printed pass to hand to their teacher to confirm that they were signed in as being a late arrival to school.
Early departures
For those students who need to leave during the day, we encourage parents/carers to organise this before the school day starts. The school will accept phone calls, emails or text messages to advise that their student needs to leave early. A printed pass will be given to the student to hand to their teacher when they need to leave class at the requested time. Before leaving the school grounds, the student must sign out through the main administration block via the student services counter. If a student is unaware that they are leaving early (that is, parent/carer phones the school with an unexpected early departure), administration staff will phone the student's classroom to advise the teacher that a student will be required to leave early. A leave pass will be generated at student services counter for the student to collect during their break if the departure is after this and during a lesson. If the request for early departure is urgent however and a student needs to leave imminently, they will be issued a leave pass upon signing out.
Extended absences
Heatley Secondary College recognises that parents/carers make decisions to withdraw their student from school for family or personal reasons. Our college recommends that this is not during school terms. If students are in the senior phase of learning, parents/carers must refer to the QCE & QCIA policy and procedures handbook. Students in this senior phase of learning, may put their QCE or ATAR at risk due to non-compliance of assessment. Students should refer to the AARA policy (Access arrangements and reasonable adjustments) if absence is due to illness or misadventure.
Withdrawal from compulsory schooling
Parents/carers who wish to withdraw their child from compulsory schooling must complete the Application for exemption for a child or young person enrolled in a state school. Further information about the conditions of withdrawal are included on the form.