Student Attendance at HPSC:

At Hampton Park Secondary College we strive for excellence, and we have high expectations to ensure our students achieve success at school and in life.

In 2022 we sharpened our focus on attendance.

We are very pleased and proud to say we finished 2022 with a greater number of students attending school than those in our local area and the State.

Because of this, students in the Senior Years had higher completion rates and many accessed first preference pathways.

This Term we have seen several students return to school who did not attend all/or some of last year. We have 784 students who are currently sitting on 100% attendance for the Term. This is a great start to the year.

Whilst we reached new heights in 2022 and we have begun 2023 well, 38% of our school population recorded 20+ days absence in the school year at the end of last year.

That is why in 2023 we have raised our expectations around attendance to 95% for every student.

Why?

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begins with students coming to school each and every day.

Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.

Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results and post school pathway options, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes.

Getting in early

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.

Our staff at Hampton Park Secondary College are here to help – if you’re having attendance issues with your child, speak to your House so we can work together.

In Victoria, school is compulsory for children and young people

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 - It's vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure you speak with your childs House in advance, and work with us to develop an absence learning plan.

“Day off” – Think twice before having a “day off” as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.

While all absences can affect academic performance, DET’s statistics show that unexcused absences are a much stronger indicator of lower reading and maths achievement.

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, together with us, to ensure they don’t fall behind:

Inform the school via your teen’s Form/Home Room teacher or Year Level Coordinator
Find out what work your teenager needs to do to keep up.
Develop an absence learning plan with your teenager’s teacher and ensure they complete the plan.

Top attendance tips for parents

We want to work in partnership with parents/carers. Please act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s House 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 us 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. We do have a school doctor who can support with medical appointments, at school. For appointments, please contact the general office
Seek help from us if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. We want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing

Any student below 95% attendance in the Senior Years (Years 10-12), is required to redeem their time. Redemption can take place before and after school, including pupil free days and in school holidays. Senior Student Learning Leaders will be contact with all students who are required to redeem time. Redemption will begin in Week 4 of this Term. Medical certificates are required for any student who is absent and misses an assessment.

Our new threshold for student attendance at Hampton Park Secondary College is 95%. This is in an effort to raise the expectations of all learners and give our students the best possible chance for success!

Missing just 1 day per fortnight equates to 20 days or 4 weeks per school year!

Short Term Absences:

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify their school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods:

Online: log the absence directly using Compass School Manager

Telephone: Call the College phone number on 03 8795 9400 and Press 1 for the Student Absence Line.

Only Parents and Legal Caregivers are authorised to log absences. Absences made by any other person will not be approved.

Long Term Absences – For absences over 1 week long

Holidays: Please submit a signed and dated letter to the Principal detailing the dates of absence, where the student is travelling to and why the student will be absent. This needs to be submitted to the school at least 2 weeks prior to leaving

Illness: If your student is absent due to extended illness, please ensure you have a medical certificate for the time of absence. Please log the absence via the options above, and contact the relevant Student Learning Leader to discuss learning support during this time.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.

You can read the full HPSC Attendance Policy here: HPSC Attendance Policy

Supporting our College to support your children!

1. Contact details

Parents/carers – Have you moved recently or changed your phone number?

Let us know and we will update your details so we can keep you up-to-date!

2. Notify the school of your child’s absence

Please remember it is your responsibility to notify the school if your child is going to be late or away from school.

You can log your child’s absence on Compass, call the school on (03) 8795 9400 or send an email to hampton.park.sc@education.vic.gov.au

The reasons for absence should be noted as one of the following:

- Medical/Illness. Please supply a medical certificate to your child’s House Leadership Team to verify the absence as VCE approved

- Parent Choice. Please outline the reasons for the absence.

3. Same-day notification of unexplained student absences

Have you missed a text from us checking where your absent child is? Please get in touch with us by calling (03) 8795 9400, or by emailing hampton.park.sc@education.vic.gov.au so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly.

The following categories can help you identify how your child is progressing with regards to their attendance (Attendance Works, 2017):

Regular attendees: miss less than 10 days a year (approx. less than 5% absence)
Risk of chronic absence: miss between 10 and 20 days a year (approx. 5-10% absence)
Chronically absent: miss 20+ days (approx. 10-15% absence; average 1 day per fortnight)
Severe chronic absence: miss 30+ days a year (approx. over 15% absence). This cohort is at high risk of becoming an Early Leaver.

It is never too early or too late to establish positive attendance habits. Attendance plays a crucial role in setting students up for success in later years.

Let’s work together to ensure your child reaches their potential!

At Hampton Park Secondary College we have high expectations for our students.

We know our students can achieve the results they are capable of when they attend school more often.

That is why we have raised our expected Attendance Percentage to 95%.

Why is attendance so important and why have we raised our expectations?

Evidence suggests students who attend school more often achieve greater academic achievement and increased post school opportunities.

Every day of absence makes a difference. The effect of one day of absence adds up quickly. The effect of missing days accumulates over time - school absence not only impacts achievement in the year the days are missed, but in future years as well.

There is no “safe” threshold for absence!

For the achievement of our students and our Community please encourage regular attendance at school.

Every day counts!

With greater ACCESS FOR SUCCESS our students can achieve more.

Redemption of Time for our Year 10-12 Students

Any student in Years 10-12, below 95% attendance, without medical certificates, is required to redeem their learning time. Below is information about redemption of time and how this can be done.

Redemption of time can take place on a Monday or Wednesday after school (as part of the House detentions), in M1 and on a Friday afternoon in Principals detention F1.
It is the students responsibility to report to the supervising teacher to tell them who they are and what they are there for - stating they are redeeming time
The students hours - if students are working productively and using their time effectively - hours will be added (by the supervising teacher). Students will NOT have hours counted if they are not using their time well.
No redemption of time will take place in the CRC anymore
Students can also do redemption before school in the relevant House, on negotiation with the House - as long as someone can supervise them.
No phones should be out during this time and serious study happening

Please also note, students in Years 10-12 below 95% without medical certificates, will be required to attend school on the first Curriculum Day in Term 2 - Monday April 24th. More information will be circulated soon, but in preparation, I encourage all students to check their attendance before the holiday break and work towards redeeming as much time as possible.What about Family Holidays during the School Term?

As outlined by the Department of Education, generally, schools advise against planning a family holiday during the school terms. If you are planning an extended holiday, please discuss this with your House well in advance of finalising any plans. The principal has the discretion to decide whether or not to approve the absence, taking into account the student’s educational interests. A meeting will be arranged with you and your child, prior to any holiday. Absence is critical for all students, especially those in the Senior years of learning.Well done!

We are very pleased that most of our students are attending school regularly and our year level averages, across the College, are sitting between 89-95%.

We are also pleased that the attendance of our students in 2023 is trending better than in 2022.

We have also seen some fantastic success stories of students who did not attend in 2022, but are attending regularly in 2023 - well done to these students.

A formal celebration will take place in Week 9 for those students above 95% attendance and those who have shown considerable improvement - more information to come.We do appreciate there are times when your child is unwell and cannot attend school. We certainly do not want them to come to school when they are unwell. Therefore, please provide the school with a medical certificate to ensure the absence is explained and approved.We thank you all for your incredible support and your partnership, as we work together to ensure the improved outcomes of your children. If you have any questions about attendance, please speak with a member of your childs House Leadership Team.Together we know we can achieve greatness for the community of Hampton Park.

Victorian Attendance Legislation

In Victoria, it is compulsory for children and young people aged 6–17 years to attend school.

Parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school every day and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school unless an exemption from attendance has been granted or an exception to their attendance applies.

Evidence shows that daily school attendance is important for young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally. Young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have better health and employment outcomes and enjoy higher incomes.

The law provides a framework for school’s attendance, exemptions and exceptions from attendance and parents’ obligations relating to ensuring attendance. The rules are not in place to punish students’ time away from school, which can be unavoidable. Instead, the laws are an effort to promote and improve student attendance across Victorian schools.

The compulsory school age

All children aged 6–17 years are required to either be enrolled at a registered school, or registered for home schooling. In some circumstances a parent can apply to the Regional Director to exempt a child from enrolment at school. For more information see: Exemptions

Responsibility for ensuring that a child attends school

School attendance is mandated under the Education Training and Reform Act 2006. It is the responsibility of parents, guardians or anyone who has parental responsibility for a child to ensure the child attends school on a regular basis.

How attendance is recorded by schools

Schools must record student attendance twice per day in primary schools and every period in secondary schools.

Requirements that apply to children attending non-government schools

The rules apply to parents of compulsory school-aged children attending any Victorian Government, Independent and Catholic Schools.

‘Poor attendance’ for the purpose of the legislation

What is considered as “poor attendance” is determined on a case by case basis. However, under the legislation, if a student of compulsory school age is absent from school for five days within a school year and without a reasonable excuse, then further action can be taken, at the discretion of the principal.

Unexplained or unapproved absences

A principal can approve or not approve any absence, based on the requirements of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, an individual school policy or on a case-by-case basis.

The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 provides some examples of what a reasonable excuse is for the purposes of explaining a school absence and includes, amongst other considerations:

Illnesses and accidents;
Unforeseen and unexplained circumstances;
If the absence was a result of complying with another law;
The child is receiving distance education through a registered school;
The child is undertaking approved education, training and/or employment;
The child has been suspended or expelled; and
The child is attending or observing a religious event or obligation.

Unexplained Absence:

A principal will record an absence as ‘unexplained’ if no explanation about the absence is given to the school by the parent or carer of the student.

If you do not contact the school to provide an explanation on the day of the student absence, the school must attempt to contact the parent or legal guardian either by phone or in writing and seek an clarification within three days of the recorded absence.

If no contact can be made with the parent or other carers of the child within 10 days, the absence will be recorded as an unexplained absence and a noted will be made in the child’s file. A parent or legal guardian can contact the principal at any time after the recorded absence to provide an explanation.

Unapproved Absence:

In general, a principal may record an absence as ‘unapproved’ when no reasonable explanation has been given for the student’s absence. If a reason is given for a student absence is not approved by the principal than the school will notify the parent or legal guardian in writing.

Action that will be taken if your child reaches five days of unapproved or unexplained absence

If a child reaches five days of unapproved or unexplained absence in the preceding 12 months then the school and principal will work with the parent or legal guardian to implement the appropriate support or intervention to assist the child and ensure they attend school every day and remain at school during school hours. If the support and intervention do not improve your child’s attendance, the principal may decide to make a referral to the School Attendance Officer. This person is the Regional Director of the Department’s Regional Office where you are located.

When a referral is made to the school attendance officer

The School Attendance Officer will investigate the student absence records and may take one or all of the following steps depending on the circumstances.

Issue a School Attendance Notice
Issue an Official Warning
Issue an Infringement Notice

For more information on the School Attendance Officer, see: School Attendance Officers.

What you can do if you have been issued a school attendance notice

The School Attendance Notice is not a fine but rather an opportunity for the child’s family to explain the absences and work with the child’s school to improve attendance in the future. The School Attendance Officer will assess the family’s response to a School Attendance Notice.

For more information, including how a School Attendance Officer assesses your family’s response, see: School Attendance Notices.

What you can do if you have received a school attendance notice but your child was not with you on the date listed

The School Attendance Notice gives parents and legal guardians the opportunity to state why their child was absence on the dates listed in the notice. The notice should be completed and returned to the School Attendance Officer by the due date.

What you can do if you have been issued with an official warning

A School Attendance Officer may decide to issue an Official Warning prior to, or instead of, issuing an Infringement Notice.

For more information see: When to Issue an Official Warning.

Circumstances under which you can be issued with an infringement notice

After other strategies to improve attendance have been implemented and failed under the new legislation, the school have the right to issue an Infringement Notice, which used as a last resort.

For more information see: Infringement Notices.

Appealing an infringement notice if you think it has been issued unfairly

If there is reason to believe that the Infringement Notice was unfairly issued, than a parent or legal guardian can apply for an internal review with the Department of Education and Training or elect to have the matter heard in the court.

For more information on the grounds for review and the process for lodging a review request, visit: Infringement Notices (‘Appeals’).

How much is the fine

The infringement notice is currently $78. The amount changes each financial year.

Types of absence

Circumstances when you may receive a fine if your child has missed lots of school due to illness

A genuine illness is a reasonable excuse. The cause of each absence will be considered on a case by case basis. While a child is absent, a parent or legal guardian should continue to update the school on the situation and work with the school to develop a Student Absence Learning Plan to ensure that the student’s educational needs are supported and they do not fall behind in their school work.

If a child is absent for a long period of time due to illness than the parent or legal guardian may wish to discuss flexible options for accessing school. The principal will be able to advise if arrangements such as Distance Education are appropriate.

Circumstances when you may receive a fine if your child attends remedial tutoring or classes outside school that are scheduled during school hours

A school principal has the discretion to decide whether an absence caused by attending remedial class or tutoring will be approved or unapproved. The parent should discuss this before the child starts undertaking the classes. In general, it is expected that the family and the school work together to identify the child’s educational needs and address them within the school setting and school hours.

Taking your child for an extended holiday during school term, and what you can do to ensure that their learning needs are supported

Generally, schools advise against planning a family holiday in term time.

If you are planning an extended holiday discuss this with your school principal well in advance of finalising any plans. The principal has the discretion to decide whether or not to approve the absence taking into account the student’s educational interests. If the principal approves the absence, work with your child’s school so you support your child’s education during their holiday. See: Student Absence Learning Plan

If the principal decides not to approve the absence, the parent or legal guardian should work with the school to decide on a reasonable length of absence or a more appropriate time for the child to go on holiday. If the parent or legal guardian decides to go on a holiday during the school term despite it being an ‘unapproved’ absence and the duration of the absence is over five days, the principal may choose to refer the case to the School Attendance Officer for further action and this may result in an Infringement Notice.

When it’s appropriate for your child to attend school part-time due to a disability

Full-time attendance is compulsory for all students aged 6-17 unless an exception from school applies, an exemption has been granted or there is a reasonable excuse provided for non-attendance. For either an exception or an exemption, a student and/or parent needs to submit an application to the relevant principal who will then make a recommendation to the Regional Director who, in turn, makes a determination based on Department policy. For more information see: Admission

In some circumstances, it may be appropriate for students with a disability to attend school for a reduced number of hours. This arrangement should only be entered into on a short-term basis and only if it is agreed by all parties, including school, family, practitioners and Department regional offices, that the reduced amount of school hours is in the best interests of the child. Each arrangement will be assessed on a case by case basis.

If the child is attending school for a reduced amount of hours as part of a plan that both outlines the return to full-time schooling and has been developed in consultation with the child’s school then this will be considered as an approved absence and will not be referred to a School Attendance Officer.

For more information contact the Disability Coordinator at your closest departmental Regional Office for further advice. See: Regions.

What happens if your child skips school without your knowledge

The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 recognises absences that are due to the child’s disobedience and are not any fault of the parent. It is therefore deemed a reasonable excuse and will not count towards the total of unapproved or unexplained absences.

If these absences are a continuing issue for your child, you should work with the school to develop plans or strategies to support their continuing engagement in school and to prevent further truancy.

For more information on strategies and supports available see: Attendance

What happens if your child refuses to go to school, and how you can support them to return

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 the parents’ best efforts to encourage their child to go to school.

School refusal may be considered a reasonable excuse for absence and if supports and interventions are being sought, should not count towards unexplained or unapproved absence.

It is important in these circumstances that you clearly communicate your situation and concerns with your child’s school. You should work with your child’s school to find the best way to support them in this situation. Schools have the flexibility to modify the school experience for students so that it better caters to their needs, goals and strengths.

For more information on the supports and interventions to support your child see: Attendance

What happens if your child is employed in the entertainment industry and misses school regularly

Any child employed in the entertainment industry during school hours must have been granted a school exemption. When considering an application, a principal will consider, amongst other factors, how the employment might adversely affect the child’s educational needs and wellbeing. The process for applying for these exemptions is outlined in the Department’s School Policy and Advisory Guide. Non-government schools are also advised to follow these procedures.

For more information, see: Attendance - Exemption Application Process.

Being issued a school enrolment notice

All children of compulsory school age (6–17 years) must be enrolled in school or registered for home schooling. If you have been issued with a School Enrolment Notice this means that the School Attendance Officer has become aware that there is no record that your child or children are enrolled in school or registered for home schooling. The School Enrolment Notice is not a fine instead, it is an opportunity for your family to work with the School Attendance Officer to ensure your child is enrolled at school or properly registered for home schooling.

For more information see: Enrolling Your Child in School or Registering for Home Schooling.

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