australia education
Can schools in Australia fail VCE students for missing class?
<p>My high school has an attendance policy in place where you are allowed to miss 6 periods of class with a medical certificate and six without. They claim that after you miss these combined 12 periods they will fail you for that subject.</p>

<p>My question is, are they legally allowed to fail year 12 students due to their attendance? The school isn’t super specific with what they mean by fail, but are they allowed to force us to drop out of year 12? Or not allow us to do our exams or SACs etc. </p>

<p>It is possible this policy does not adhere to <a href="http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/Pages/improvementstrategies.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the guidelines on managing non-attendance</a> set out by the Victoria State Government's Department of Education and Training. A total of 13 missed classes in a subject equates to less than a tenth of the typical year, and in the absence of exception for greater medical absences, may also go against the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority's Special Provision policy. Given the way that VCE units are structured, an automatic non-satisfactory grade for 13 periods of absence is likely to impact certain demographics much more than others, and that school administrators are sure to know this, it may be in violation of anti-discrimination laws as well.</p>

<p>This issue should immediately be raised with the pastoral support staff (pastoral or "home room" teacher, deans, guidance or health support), and with the school council student representative (if there is one), and with the student's parents or caregivers. If it does not already, the school policy should be clear on the manner in which it complies with the broader policy and guidelines of the DET, VCAA, and any regulations that further apply.</p>
