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:
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children.
What are my Legal responsibilities?
Education in New South Wales is compulsory for all children between the ages of six years and below the minimum school leaving age of 17 years. The Education Act 1990 requires that parents ensure their children of compulsory school age regularly attend school each day it is open for students.
The Importance of arriving on time
Arriving at school and class on time:
- Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
- Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine
- Gives students time to greet their friends before class
- Reduces classroom disruption.
Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.
What if my child has to be away from school?
On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:
- being sick, or having an infectious disease
- having an unavoidable medical appointment
- being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
- exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral).
Following an absence from school you must ensure that within 7 days you provide the school with a verbal or written explanation for the absence. However, if the school has not received an explanation from you within 2 days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence.
The school may decline to accept an explanation that you have provided if they do not believe the absence is in the best interest of your child. In these circumstances your child’s absence would be recorded as unjustified.
The school may request medical certificates or other documentation when frequent or long term absences are explained as being due to illness. The school may also seek parental permission to speak with medical specialists to obtain information to collaboratively develop a health care plan to support your child. If the request is denied, the school can record the absences as unjustified.
Early Leave procedures (UPDATED June 2024)
Medical and other appointments should not be made during the school day. Where this is unavoidable:
Students should report to the front office before school with a note, written and signed by a parent, and a copy of their appointment (or other documentation).
- Students will be provided with an early leave note by the school.
- Parents must report to the school office to collect their child at the specified time. Both the student and parent must sign out through the early leave book.
- If it is indicated on the early leave note that students are catching public transport or driving/walking to their appointment, the office staff will phone the parent for verification. Students will need to report to the school office at the specified time and sign out through the early leave book.
We ask that parents do not call the school during the day requesting that their child/ren leave early, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Wednesday Sport
The NSW Department of Education’s Sport and Physical Activity Policy requires students from Years 7 to Year 10 to participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of planned physical activity across the school week. Bulli High School’s official finish time on a Wednesday afternoonfollowing sport is 2.30pm to meet the required sporting curriculum hours. Requests from students and parents to leave earlier than the school finish time in order to catch a train home will not be granted.
Travel
Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, discuss this with your child’s deputy principal. An Application for Extended Leave needs to be completed prior to leaving which can be collected from the school office. Applications for Extended Leave must state a clear reason for the leave and include documentation such as plane tickets. This should be completed at least 2 weeks prior to the leave. It should not be assumed that this leave will be granted, particularly if it is not in your child’s best educational interests, is beyond one school week or if the student has a poor attendance record. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.
If the time period for absence includes assessment tasks, the procedures set out in the school’s assessment policy must be followed. That is, students must apply for special consideration for tasks using the appropriate forms, before their departure. It is also a student’s responsibility to ensure work is caught up on return.
Unwell at school
If students feel unwell at school, they should report to the office and sick bay where they will be supported by school staff. Students are reminded that they should not contact their parents directly, as the school staff will do this.
My child won’t go to school what should I do?
You should contact the school as soon as possible to discuss the issue and ask for help. Strategies to help improve attendance may include a referral to the school’s learning and support team or linking your child with appropriate support networks. The school may seek further support from the Home School Liaison Program to develop an Attendance Improvement Plan.
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.
Bulli High has procedures in place to support and monitor student attendance, core values and behaviours.
Attendance at school is critical in managing the Wellbeing of students and maximising their learning potential.
Please take the time to read the policies.
MOBILE PHONE POLICY
Bulli High School supports the teaching of an awareness of cyber safety and the use of mobile devices in the workplace and classroom.
The NSW Government has announced restrictions on the use of mobile phones in NSW high schools. From the beginning of Term 4, 2023, students in all NSW public schools will be unable to use mobile phones at school under the Students’ Use of Mobile Phones in Schools policy. This policy is being implemented by the NSW Government to increase focus and learning in classrooms, remove distractions and promote positive social interactions, while reducing the potential for online bullying.
Bulli High School is implementing this policy through an ‘Off and Away - Gate to Gate’ strategy. The policy will apply to mobile phones, airpods, headphones and smartwatches during all school hours.
Students will still be able to carry their phones while travelling to and from school. If students choose to bring their phones to school, they will be required to switch them off and keep them out of sight during the school day from gate to gate. This applies both in the classroom, and at break times, as well as throughout all school activities. This is an approved NSW Department of Education option and will limit unnecessary distractions and complement our ongoing approach to ensure every student maximises their learning and social growth in a safe and supportive environment.
- Turn off their phone before entering the school;
- Place their phone in their bag;
- Ensure they do not access their phone until they leave the school at the end of the day.
Students will not be able to access their phone once they arrive at school, in class or during breaks, including at the canteen.
If a student is observed accessing or using a phone, smartwatch, headphones or airpods, on the first occasion it will be:
- Confiscated and stored securely at the office. Parents will be informed and it will be returned to the student at the end of the day.
If there is a second infringement of the policy, the phone, smartwatch, headphones or airpods will be:
- Confiscated and stored securely at the office. A parent will be required to collect it at the end of the day. Students will also be issued with an after-school detention.
If there is a third infringement of the policy, the phone, smartwatch, headphones or airpods will be:
- Confiscated and stored securely at the office. A parent will be required to collect it at the end of the day. Students will also be issued with an after-school detention and a Formal Caution from the Deputy Principal.
Further infringements will result in suspension.
Students who refuse to comply with this policy and hand their phone, smartwatch, headphones or airpods to a staff member when requested will be referred to the Deputy Principal and issued with a Formal Caution.
We know this is a change for students and we appreciate parents working in partnership with the school to support this state-wide policy. Please assist your child by discussing the policy with them and reminding them of their responsibility to follow it.
Some common questions from students and parents have been:
- How will students know the details of the ‘Off and Away - Gate to Gate’ policy?
The policy and requirements are being communicated to students at assembly.
- How will students pay at the Canteen, Office and Uniform Shop?
Students will need to bring a card or cash.
- Will there be any exemptions?
Parents of a student with a medical or learning need may apply for an exemption. Supporting documentation will be required as part of the process. Exemption application forms can be obtained from the relevant Deputy Principal.
- What if a parent needs to urgently contact their child or the child needs to contact their parent?
Emergency contact can be made by the school office.
- What if the school goes into lockdown or lockout?
In the case of a lockout or lockdown, the school will make parents or carers aware of the situation if required. If needed, parents can also contact the school via the administrative office using the school’s contact information available on the website.
- Are any other devices banned from use during school hours?
Mobile phones are banned, plus devices that pair to the phone including smartwatches, headphones and airpods.
- What happens with mobile phones during sport and on excursions?
Mobile phones are not to be used during sport or on excursions.
- What if a parent is unable to collect their child’s mobile phone, smartwatch, headphones or airpods after they have been confiscated?
Mobile phones, smartwatches, headphones and airpods will be stored securely until parents are able to collect them from the school.
- How can an employer contact students about work shifts?
Students should alert their employers about the school’s mobile phone strategy and advise that they may not see any messages the employer sends until after school. Alternative methods of contacts such as email could also be used.
- Can students access their phones during private study or minimally supervised periods?
Students will not be permitted to access their phones during these times.
- What if my child needs to use their phone for classwork?
Students will not be using their phone for classwork. The school has access to a range of other digital devices that are more suitable and conducive to student learning. Students should ensure their timetable is copied into their School Diary.
- What happens if my child is in sick bay and the school has arranged a parent to pick them up?
Students in sick bay are constantly monitored and communicated with. Please contact the front office.
We are excited to ensure our school is a mobile phone-free space to improve learning and engagement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.