West Wallsend High School logo

West Wallsend High School

West Wallsend High School

We learn for life

Telephone02 4953 2111

Emailwestwalls-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Rules and policies

Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.

Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.

Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.

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.

Young people below the age of 17 who have completed Year 10 must be:

  • in school, or registered for home schooling 

  • in approved education or training, such as a traineeship, apprenticeship or TAFE

  • in full-time paid employment (average 25 hours a week) 

  • in a combination of work, education and/or training (average of 25 hours a week combined).

Students 17 years and over who are enrolled in school must attend school regularly to meet HSC course requirements. 

As a parent or carer, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day when they are of compulsory school age. You must explain all absences to the school within 7 days.

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

SMS Absence notification

 
The school will send parents/carers daily notification of unexplained student absences. If your child has been marked absent and the school has not already been notified of the reason for the absence, an SMS message will be sent to the parent/carer. The parent/carer can reply directly to the SMS to provide an explanation for the absence, preferably by 2pm on the day of the absence. When replying to the message, please include the student name, date of absence, reason for absence and name of person responding.
 

Early leave request procedure

There are occasions when you may need to collect your young person early from school to attend an appointment. To request an early leave for your young person, please follow the procedure below:

  • Students requesting early leave must provide an essential reason for their leave in writing signed and dated by their parents/carer to their Deputy Principal before 9am. 
  • Justified leave will only be approved for essential reasons such as a medical appointment.
  • Evidence of the appointment should be provided to the school enabling the Principal to approve the early leave as justified.
  • Early leave requests without evidence of an appointment will be recorded as unjustified in accordance with DoE Attendance Policy.
  • It is expected that a parent/carer will pick up their young person to attend such an essential appointment. Parents/carers should not request students walk home unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by a member of the Senior Executive.
  • We request parents/carers do not call the office to request early leave or present to the school office to pick up students without notice during Thursday sport. This practice is causing significant issues for office staff who need to attend to student and school needs. 

Unjustified early leaver requests will impact student attendance records. Like any attendance concern, repeated early leave requests will be followed up using appropriate measures, including a learning support meeting and possible Home School Liaison Officer involvement.

Unjustified absences will be recorded on student reports per the DoE Assessment and Reporting Policy.

Participation in sport is a mandatory requirement of the 7-10 school curriculum.

If your child is experiencing issues with attending sport, please get in touch with the relevant Deputy Principal so we can actively work together to resolve any concerns and avoid the impact of unjustified absence on your young person’s attendance record.

Students with an injury or valid reason not to participate in sport should provide a letter to their Deputy Principal. We will provide these students with a non-sport option.