High School Policy & Procedures
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AT OZFORD COLLEGE:
1. RATIONALE
This policy has been developed to meet the requirements of the National Code 2007 Standard 11, which requires that registered providers monitor student’s compliance with visa conditions relating to attendance and are proactive in notifying and counselling students who are at risk of failing to meet attendance requirements.
See also Appeals Policy
2. SCOPE
This policy applies to all Ozford College students.
3. POLICY
3.1 Attendance is recorded for every class and students’ attendance rates are calculated accordingly. Students are expected to attend all classes on time as scheduled on the timetable.
3.2 International students of Ozford are required to attend 80% or more of their classes every term if they are to meet the requirements of their student visa. This minimum attendance requirement is not sufficient if a student expects to perform well at study. Therefore Ozford addresses attendance matters once a student is likely to fall below a 90% attendance rate.
3.3 Ozford implements intervention strategies when students attendance fall below 90%. Warning letter will be issued to students and students will be contacted via phone calls. A final intention to report letter will be issued when students attendance fall below 80%.
Ozford may only decide not to report a student for breaching the 80% attendance requirement when students go through the appeal process and:
Produce documentary evidence clearly demonstrating that compassionate and compelling circumstances apply, and;
The student is attending at least 70% of the scheduled course contact hours for the term.
Students will be reported via PRISM for unsatisfactory attendance after 20 days if students do not appeal.
4. RECORDING & MONITORING ATTENDANCE
Student’s attendance are recorded every lesson. In general students have 3 lessons per week per subjects. If students miss consecutive 3 lessons from the same subjects without contacting school, it is likely that students have missed a maximum of 5 days consecutive without approval.
4.1 Students will be contacted via phone and asked to come in for an interview with the Student Services Officer.
4.2 Student Services Officer will calculate student’s total number of missed classes to determine if a warning letter is required to be issued to student.
Please refer to Recording & Monitoring Student Attendance Procedure on how attendances are monitored.
Illness
4.3 Students must have medical certificates as evidence if they are absent due to illness. A copy needs to be provided to the Student Services Officer upon return to Ozford so that students can get a Red Card before they are allowed back to class.
4.4 Students need to ring the Student Services Desk - 8663 7177 - and explain reasons
for lateness or absence. A record will be made on students’ attendance sheet.
5. HOLIDAYS
Students must be at school from the first class on the first day and the last class on the last day of each term. Leaving early and returning late from holiday is not permitted.
6. DETENTION
6.1 Students who are consistently late for class and are absent will be given detentions. These are conducted after the last period of the day.
6.2 The Student Services Officer will inform the student of the date and time of the detention.
6.3 The detention will be used as an opportunity for doing homework and revision.
6.4 Detentions may be recorded on the student file.
7. CONSEQUENCES FOR LESS THAN 90% ATTENDANCE
Step 1. Detention issued by the Student Services Officer and recorded on student file.
Step 2. Further absence will result in first warning letter issued and phone call to parents. A copy will be kept in file.
Step 3. Second warning letter will be issued to students who still miss class after receiving first warning letter. A copy will be sent to the parents.
Student placed on a conduct card for 5 days
Step 4. If students continue to miss class/absent, third warning letter of intention to report will be sent to student and parents.
9. APPEALS
9.1 Students need to respond within 20 working days for an internal appeal. If this is not successful students may access the external appeals process. Ozford may only decide not to report a student for breaching the 80% attendance requirement when students go through the appeal process and:
9.1.1 Produce documentary evidence clearly demonstrating that compassionate and compelling circumstances apply, and;
9.1.2 The student is attending at least 70% of the scheduled course contact hours for the term.
9.2 Failure to respond to the third warning letter within 20 working days will result in the student’s enrolment being cancelled and the student being reported to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for non-attendance.
9.3 If a student does not access the external appeals process within 20 working days after being notified of an unsuccessful internal appeal, the student’s enrolment will be cancelled and the student will be reported to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for non-attendance.