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:
Reminder on information regarding mobile phones
Students, parents, and carers are reminded that mobile phones have been banned from Colyton High School, as of Term 4, 2023. The Department’s policy and supports have been used to form the School’s policy regarding the phone ban.
Key features of the policy include:
- Students are NOT allowed to use mobile phones when on school grounds, including from arrival at school, during and in between lessons, and whilst at recess and lunch.
- Principals will manage individual requests from parents/carers for any exemptions to the policy. Exemptions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances and supporting evidence will be required.
Colyton High School utilise the individual, lockable YONDR phone pouches that allow students to bring their phones to and from school but restrict access to phones during the school day, as they are locked and carried by the student, within the YONDR pouch.
Students lock their phones in the pouch when they enter school grounds at the start of the day and then unlock their phones from the pouches as they leave school at the end of the day. If you need more information, please contact the school on 02 9623 2789.
Alternatively, students are most welcome to leave their mobile phones at home. Everyone is reminded that valuable items, including mobile phones, are only brought to school at the owner's risk.
We thank students, parents, and carers for having important conversations about mobile phone use and management and support of this mandatory policy.
Find out more about student use of mobile phones and related devices - DOE Policy summary (PDF 327.9 KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 236 KB)
Mobile phone ban in Schools and its impact on purchases at school
This is a reminder that the phone can not be used to pay for purchases at school by the students. This includes the Cash Desk, Canteen, and the Uniform shop. As outlined in earlier communication, Colyton High School is implementing the DoE phone policy and has communicated the expectations with the whole community.
If a student needs to purchase uniform or food, or anything from the school, they need to use their bank card or pay for it with cash. The Cash Desk, Canteen, and the Uniform shop will not accept payment made via phone.
Thank you for supporting the DoE policy and working with the school.
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.