Attendance and Data Update

Term 1, 2022

As we near the end of Term 1, it is a poignant time to reflect on, celebrate and target some key points for improvement:

It is our first full term on-site since the end of 2019COVID-19 testing and close-contact procedures have continued to impact attendanceWhile attendance across each year level was steady in Term 1, it was still well below the 90% attendance policy at the College

It is with a lot of relief and positivity that schools have been able to remain open to deliver on-site learning for the entirety of Term 1, 2022. This is reflected in the steady rate of student attendance, which is available for viewing later in this article.

Tracking Attendance and Data at Edgars Creek SC

Anthony Asta - Leading Teacher (Timetabling & Data Management)

Part of my role at Edgars Creek Secondary College is to manage and maintain our comprehensive system and method of tracking student attendance, as well as to ensure that other data such as academic assessments and behavioural trends are tracked to better target students' needs.

Our Middle Years and Senior Years sub-school teams, as well as our Curriculum and Pedagogy team, are updated weekly on the attendance trends across the College. The College adjusts and responds accordingly to the data.

College Attendance Policy

Edgars Creek Secondary College has an attendance policy that is in line with the expectations of the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET).

View the College Attendance Policy

View the Victorian Government's Guide to Student Attendance

The Victorian Government requires that families "let the school know as soon as possible and explain why your child can’t come to school." You can do this via the Compass portal website or the Compass app on your smart device.

A guide to do this is included below:

Students are expected to maintain at least 90% attendance across the school year. This is especially important when it comes to Years 10-12, when students may be completing one or several VCE and/or VCAL subjects.

"If a student has completed work, but there has been a substantial breach of the school’s attendance policy, the school may be unable to authenticate the student’s work completed across the outcome." VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2022, pg. 72

The statement above is from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority's (VCAA) VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook. Essentially, it is saying that if a student has fallen below the school's minimum attendance requirements when completing VCE and/or VCAL, they are likely to fail any affected units of study.

Student Attendance in Term 1, 2022

Attendance across all year levels in Term 1, 2022 remained steady, but below the minimum expected rate of 90% attendance.

Table 1 - Average attendance across each year level, Term 1 2022
Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
85.20%	80.20%	78.81%	76.86%	80.11%

While COVID-19 positive cases and close-contact regulations had some impact on our attendance, too many absences still remain unexplained. It is essential that you record the reason for your child's absence on Compass. Our attendance data is communicated directly with the DET and is used by both the College and the DET to plan initiatives and programs going forward.

Table 2 - Absence Reasons	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
Unexplained	36.22%	47.59%	41.62%	53.43%	48.16%
Parent Explained	63.82%	50.20%	46.09%	42.63%	41.40%
School Explained (incl. COVID)	1.63%	2.28%	1.80%	3.79%	10.96%

It is also important that if your child tests positive to COVID-19 or is a close contact, that you inform the College.

Supporting Your Child's Attendance

The DET provides some helpful advice to support families in improving student attendance.

Talk to your child about school and how important it is. You can ask them how they feel about school, what they liked and if there are any problems.
Reward good behaviour and not bad behaviour. For example, if your child refuses to go to school, do not let them have access to their phones or the internet.
Set a good example. Show them how you keep to your own commitments.
Encourage your child to take on hobbies that your child enjoys such as sports and clubs. This will help them develop positive relationships outside of the classroom.
Have a set time to do homework and go to bed.
Leave all technology out of their bedroom.
Pack their school bag the night before with everything they need.
Have a set time for breakfast.
Plan to meet up with a friend so they can travel to school together.

As always, if you require further support, please contact the relevant sub-school via 03 9134 8200.

I hope that you all have a restful break and look forward to seeing your child back at school next term.

Kind regards,

Anthony Asta

Leading Teacher - Timetabling & Data Management