Student Attendance
Attendance information @ Hampton Park Secondary College
769 students at Hampton Park Secondary College have attended school over 95% of the time, this Term!
At Hampton Park Secondary College we have very high expectations when it comes to attendance.
We expect ALL students to be attending school over 95% of the time to support their learning.
As outlined by DET:
It’s never too late to improve attendance. Even in the middle years, when school can seem the most challenging for students and when attendance rates can be at their lowest, going to school more often can make a big difference.
Every day counts.
IN VICTORIA SCHOOL IS COMPULSORY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 6 – 17 YEARS
The main reasons for absence are:
Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference.
Family holidays - We have noticed, many of our students are/have taken holidays during Term 1. It is advised by DET (Department of Education), that holidays are taken during school holidays and not during term time. Schools decide if it is okay for students to miss any school for a holiday. If the holiday is known in advance, we will meet with you to determine the reasoning and we might give your child work to do so their learning is not affected. If Schools do not approve the holiday and you decide to go, you might receive a warning or a fine and Senior Students (10-12), will be asked to redeem the hours they are absent, to ensure they catch up on all learning required.
“Day off” – Think twice before letting your teenager have a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.
Truancy – This is when students choose not to go to school without their parent’s permission or skip out of school during the day. There can be many reasons for truancy; the best way to address this is for schools and parents to work together.
While all absences can effect academic performance, DET’s statistics show that unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and maths achievement.
School refusal - School refusing children experience significant emotional distress not only when going to school but also at the thought of going to school; they may be absent from school for weeks or even months at a time. School refusal differs from truancy as children generally stay home with the knowledge of the parents and despite their best efforts to encourage their child to go to school. See: My child or teenager has anxiety
BEING AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR 1 DAY A FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL
If for any reason your teenager must miss school, there are things you can do with your school to ensure they don’t fall behind:
* Inform the school via your child's House Leadership Team
* Find out what work your teenager needs to do to keep up.
* Develop an absence learning plan with your teenager’s House Team and ensure they complete the plan.
If your teenager must miss school, speak with your child's House Team as early as possible.
TOP ATTENDANCE TIPS FOR PARENTS
* Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
* Remember that every day counts
* There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
* Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
* Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea
* Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
* Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information and resources to help address attendance issues, visit:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/attendance/Pages/improve-attendance.aspx