Attendance Matters
Regular attendance is essential for student success. Being at school every day helps students build important skills, stay connected with their peers and teachers, and achieve their learning goals. When students attend school consistently, they are more likely to thrive academically and socially.
If your child is absent from school, a parent/carer can provide an explanation by entering the reason through the Sentral Parent Portal or emailing the reason and any relevant documentation such as a medical certificate to:
kingscliff-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Alternatively, a note written by the student's parent/carer can be delivered to the Front Office upon the student's return to school.
Absence on a Wednesday - Sport: Sport is a mandatory component of the Record of School Achievement (ROSA). Consistent sport absences will result in a warning letter being sent and could jeopardise the attainment of a ROSA.
Wednesday sport is not an appropriate time to arrange regular appointments. If students are signing out during sport time they will be required to bring a note to explain this absence. This note will need to contain the following:
- student’s name
- the specific reason for leaving school early (ie. not just appointment or family business)
- the time when departing
- who is picking the student up
- a contact name and telephone number
The note will need to be signed by the Sport Coordinator, before Homeroom or at recess at the latest. Parents arriving at the Front Office to collect their child will be required to fill out an early leaving form and have it signed by the Sport Coordinator.
If your child will be absent from school for an extended period, please notify the school in advance by providing written notice with the reason and dates of the leave. Extended leave requires approval, and depending on the number of school days missed, additional documentation may need to be completed. Please discuss this with the Deputy Principal.
Absences for Travel: Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, please contact the school. An Application for Extended Leave may need to be completed. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.
Absences for specific purposes: Families are encouraged to contact the school if they know their child is going to be engaged in an activity that results in school absences other than travel eg participation in elite sporting events. If this is necessary, it is the responsibility of the parent to discuss the matter with the school in advance. An Application for Exemption from attendance needs to be completed, and must clearly demonstrate that an exemption is necessary and that alternatives to exemption have been considered.
All students, including seniors, wishing to leave school before conclusion of their last class must bring a note to the Head Teacher Admin to be counter signed. The note must include the reason and time of departure. This note is then to be taken to the Front Office Student Services window to sign out at the time stated on the note.
Alternatively, if parents/carers are collecting their child, please report to the front office to complete an early leave form to sign them out.
Regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential.
At Kingscliff High School, we must ensure our school has effective measures in place to monitor and follow up students absences.
Our school absence notification system consists of a text message, follow up email and Sentral notification in the parent portal, to minimise unexplained absences. An absence is unexplained if parents have failed to provide an explanation to the school within 7 days. Thank you for your understanding and assistance.
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 . 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:
Need help with attendance?
If you have questions about arrival times or absences, please contact us.