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:
Leave exemptions
Applications for leave must be made to the principal. Please contact the school on 02 97988444 to make an appointment. You will need to bring evidence of travel (for example a flight itinerary) with you to the application meeting. The decision to approve or exempt leave is with the principal. Families are reminded that school holidays should be the time that if applicable, interstate or overseas travel occurs.
Text message service
At Canterbury Boys High School (CBHS), we inform parents/carers via a SMS text message system when their child is absent. Please ensure you provide the school with the most up-to-date mobile contact numbers. Please contact the Administration office to enquire further.
Management of non-attendance
The school's commitment to student wellbeing and providing students with a safe and supportive school environment has seen the attendance percentage of CBHS students remain at or above state average results. Strategies to support improved school attendance include:
- a dedication to working collaboratively with our community, supporting the social and emotional health of our young people
- working closely with personal from within the depatment and external agencies. This includes collaboration with the departments home school liaison officer (HSLO) and the Aboriginal community liaison officer (ACLO)
- implementing a personalised mentoring program for students with attendance concerns
- monitoring of attendance statistics by year advisors, deputy principals and the principal
- text message system to parents/carers to report whole-day absences and truancies
- frequent student interviews and parent meetings as follow-up
- attendance monitoring card used by students and monitored by year advisors and/or a deputy principal.
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.
Online communications provide an opportunity to enhance students’ learning experiences by providing access to vast amounts of information across the globe. Today’s students are exposed to online communication tools and the internet in their community.
Download the school's online communications student agreement (PDF 107KB) for more information about the agreement and a copy to sign.