Palm Beach-Currumbin High School is committed to fostering a balanced, yet dynamic curriculum within a friendly community where all members may achieve their potential. We value quality teaching and learning and we aim to provide diverse and challenging experiences which equip students for their roles in society.
Our values and beliefs are central to the way in which staff carry out their tasks. These values and beliefs are:-
This Code of Behaviour has been prepared as part of the school’s continuing review of behaviour management practices. It is underpinned by the National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools.
View the School Code of Behaviour.
The Parents and Citizens’ Association is strongly supportive of the wearing of full and correct school uniform and have requested the school to ensure that it is worn. PBC is a uniform school and all parents and students enrolling here are expected to accept this and wear the correct uniform. This is also part of our school security program.
View the School Dress Code & Uniform Policy.
Every day counts. Students who attend school regularly achieve better and have a better chance in life. Students develop better communication, teamwork and resilience skills when they are attending regularly. Attendance at school is a legal requirement.
Under legislation students are required to attend school until the end of Year 10 or 16 years of age and then continue further education or training until the end of Year 12 or 17 years of age or until a Certificate III course is completed.
Students may apply in writing for exemptions to compulsory schooling to enter a fulltime apprenticeship/ traineeship or the workforce.
The school's attendance requirements are that students:
Authorised absences included students attending any function pertaining to the school e.g. excursions, camps, sporting representation.
If a student is absent or late they should record that date in this planner and provide the school with a note from their guardian or medical certificate via Form teacher or Student Services. If you are absent from school, ensure that you obtain the school's approval for that absence as soon as possible, either in advance or within a week of returning to school.
Half and full day absences and late arrivals are added together to determine the number of days of unexplained absence in each term.
From the beginning of each year student absences will be monitored and when they reach a total of 5 unexplained days, students will receive a warning letter advising them that the school wishes to discuss this issue with the student and parent/guardian.
Students who are finished year 10 or over 16 years of age may have their enrolment cancelled if their adherence to the attendance requirements listed above is unsatisfactory.
PBC High School considers the following absences to be appropriate:
Genuine Illness –
Note from Parent/Guardian.
Doctor’s certificate is required for three or more days absent. That is any three consecutive school days in one week or a Friday and the following Monday, Tuesday (or Thurs, Fri, Mon)
Personal or family situations –
Each application will be considered on its individual merits by the Principal.
Absences which will not be approved by the school include: finishing assignments or completing school work at home and leaving school for outside work commitments which are not school based work placements, traineeships or apprenticeships.
A student attending a secondary school must be full-time and undertake in any period the amount of work that the school regards as a full-time workload. Hence assignments and other assessment items not completed may be considered as failure to fulfil course requirements.
Background
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School has seen its enrolment grow by an average of 100 students per year from 1117 in 1994 to over 1900 students in 2003. This growth has resulted from the successful introduction of programs which appeal to the aspirations of students and which have enhanced the otherwise good reputation of the school in the Gold Coast community. These specialised programs and their date of introduction include Sports Excellence (1996), Academic Excellence (2001), Performing Arts Excellence (2002), and the Industry Pathway Program (2003). In addition the general reputation of the school has attracted large numbers of students to enrol at the school from outside the local area even if they are not part of a specialised program. The student population of the school is above its design capacity and management of the enrolment is seen as a way of preserving highly successful specialised programs while at the same time restricting enrolments from outside the local area.
Rationale
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to an appropriate educational service for students resident within this community as defined by its local catchment area.
Because of enrolment capacity and growth Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School may be unable to meet this obligation in future, unless action is taken now to manage enrolment.
This plan sets out the conditions under which students may be enrolled into Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School.
Enrolment capacity of school
The school currently has the capacity to enrol up to 1848 students in 87 classrooms.
Local catchment area
The school's enrolment capacity for students who live outside the local catchment is dependant upon:
The local catchment area is based on equidistance boundaries with other schools. The attached map defines the boundary area for which Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School is the closest school by trafficable route. Should this capacity change because of changes to road networks, this will be formally notified through the registration and gazettal of an amended plan including the operative date for the new catchment area.
As Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School is in an area that is still being developed, or has the potential for re-development, the catchment boundary has the potential to change as new trafficable routes are established. This Plan will be updated if the catchment area changes with an operative date. During this transition phase students who live within the new proposed enrolment boundary will be allowed to enrol at the school.
Programs for students with disabilities are regional programs for students whose educational support needs are additional to, or different from, other students. Students who live outside the catchment area and are verified, or likely to be verified with a disability can enrol in the school to attend the program if it is the closest program to their home and meets their individualised need.
Enrolment Policy
All students who reside within the local catchment area and are eligible for enrolment in the educational program offered by the school have a right to enrolment at the school. The Principal will hold places for students who relocate to within the catchment boundary throughout the school year.
Enrolment of students from outside the local catchment area will be managed to ensure that the total current and forecast enrolments do not exceed the school's current built capacity and where applicable will ensure there is an even spread of students across year levels or class groupings.
The school's enrolment management plan does not replace other departmental policy; for example Safe, Supportive and Disciplined School Environment, nor does it override subsequent determinations regarding built school capacity.
Enrolment Criteria
Students who reside outside the school's local catchment boundary who apply for enrolment at the school will be put on a waiting list in order of receipt of application. Where there is spare capacity, students will be enrolled from the waiting list based on the following criteria and order of priority:
Siblings of students already enrolled
Proof of Residency
School should select which documentation is required to be produced:
Parents who wish to enrol their child/ren at Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School under the Enrolment Management Plan will need to demonstrate that the child/ren to be enrolled, reside within the catchment area. The following documentation may be required if requested by the principal:
Acceptance and notification processes
Applications for admission into Years 8-12 will be accepted each year from the beginning of Term 3 for enrolment to commence from the beginning of Term 1 the following year.
Applications will be recorded in order of receipt.
Applications will remain current only for the year of submission.
Review
All enrolment applications will be considered on merit in accordance with the enrolment criteria.
Parents wishing to have an unsuccessful enrolment application reviewed may seek clarification from the principal. Parents may provide a written submission seeking a review of an unsuccessful enrolment application. This submission should present evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied fairly and equitably.
The Enrolment Management Committee will review written submissions and the reply should be in writing within 14 days of submission.
Enrolment Management Committee
The enrolment management committee consists of Principal (Chair)/P&C or School Council Representative/Representative of Executive Director (Schools)/Staff Representative.
Further appeal should be directed to the Executive Director (Schools) whose decision will be final.
Please contact the principal at Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School on - Tel: (07) 5525 9333 should you wish to discuss, or need further assistance with enrolments.