Attendance

📢 Key Messages – Every Day Counts

Dear Families,

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in student success. The message is simple and clear: every day at school counts.

Why Attendance Is So Important

• Attending school every day builds strong learning habits needed for future education and work
• Missing school impacts academic progress in reading, writing, and numeracy
• Absences also affect social connections, friendships, and sense of belonging
• There is no “safe” number of days to miss – each missed day adds up over time

In secondary school, students miss almost one week per term on average, which equals nearly four weeks of learning each year if not addressed. 

Getting in Early Makes a Difference

• It is never too late to improve attendance
• Even in later year levels, improved attendance leads to better learning outcomes
• Schools and families working together can make a significant impact
• If attendance becomes a challenge, early communication with the College is key 

Common Reasons for Absence

• Illness: Students should stay home only when genuinely unwell
• “Days off”: Non‑essential absences can quickly result in students falling behind
• Truancy: When students miss school without parent permission, this has a strong link to lower academic outcomes

Unexplained and unapproved absences have a particularly negative impact on learning. 

How Families Can Help

If your child needs to miss school:

• Notify the College and speak with teachers as early as possible
• Ask about work that needs to be completed
• Develop a learning plan to help your child keep up

Open communication with the College helps ensure attendance concerns are addressed early and supportively. 

At Whittlesea Secondary College, we work in partnership with families to ensure students are supported to attend school every day and achieve their best.

Thank you for your continued support.

Every day counts.