Rules and policies
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 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.
It's not ok to be away
In New South Wales, ‘compulsory schoolage’ means that all children from six years of age are legally required to be enrolled at and attending school or to be registered for home schooling.
After they complete Year 10, and until they turn 17 years of age, students then have the following options.
They may also be in:
– Full-time further education and training (e.g. TAFE, traineeship, apprenticeship)
– Full-time, paid employment of an average of 25 hours per week; or – a combination of both of the above.
See Compulsory school attendance.
It is not OK to be away - see parent information sheet(PDF 420KB)
If your child is sick, please contact the school office on (02) 9661 8000.
Roll Call
Attendance Rolls are marked at 8.45am each morning in Roll Call rooms. Students must organise themselves to be on time each day.
Lateness
Students who are late to school must bring a note from their parents/caregivers explaining the reason for their lateness and report to the front office. Persistent lateness is not acceptable and will be dealt with by the school's disciplinary procedures.
Attendance
Parents of students who are recorded as absent on any given day receive a text message on that day to advise them of this. They can respond by text message free of charge.
When a student is absent from school for any period of time, a note explaining the absence, written and signed by the student's parent/caregiver, must be handed in at Roll Call or at the Attendance Office on the day of the student's return.
It is a legal requirement that a note, covering ALL absences (whatever the reason), is received by the School from the parent/caregiver.
If you know your child will be absent for more than two days, please advise the School beforehand. A note signed by parent/caregiver is still required.
Students in the TSP who are required to attend coaching camps and/or competitions necessitating a period of absence from the school must complete an Application for Approved Leave Form available from the front office.
Student attendance (including lateness) may impact on the awarding of School Certificate, Preliminary and Higher School Certificate.
Bullying of students- Prevention and response
This policy sets out the department's position on student bullying and the requirements for preventing and responding to student bullying, including online bullying, in NSW public schools and preschools.
Suspension
From the beginning of Term 4, 2022, the Student Behaviour Policy and Procedures came into effect, replacing the previous Student Discipline in Government Schools Policy and Suspension and Expulsion Procedures.
This includes changes to the grounds of suspension, suspension durations, and the introduction of recording formal warnings and DEL approvals on suspension extensions that exceed the maximum number of suspensions and days a student can be suspended in a calendar year.
See School suspension fact sheet
See Suspension information from the NSW Government Education.
School mobile phone policy
Direction and guidance on the safe, responsible and respectful use of digital devices and online services for students in NSW public schools.
Students at Matraville Sports High school have recieved mobile phone pouches. Upon entering school grounds, students place their device into the locked pouch and it remains there until exit of school grounds.
Matraville Sports High School mobile phone policy
See the NSW Government Education Digital devices and online procedures policy.