Scotch College

Policies for Overseas Students

Course Progress and Attendance Policy for Overseas Students

1. Course Progress

1. The College will monitor, record and assess the course progress of each student for the course in which the student is currently enrolled.
2. The course progress of all students will be assessed at the end of each semester of enrolment.
3. Students who have begun part way through a semester will be assessed after one full period of attendance.
4. To demonstrate satisfactory course progress, students will need to achieve competency in at least 50% of units in any study period.
5. If a student does not achieve competency in at least 50% of units studied in an assessment period, the Head of Year will meet with the student to develop an intervention strategy for academic improvement. This may include;
1. additional supervised study periods
2. tutorial assistance
3. other intervention strategies as deemed necessary
6. A copy of the student’s individual strategy and progress reports in achieving improvement will be forwarded to parents.
7. The student’s individual strategy for academic improvement will be monitored over the following semester by the Head of Year and records of student response to the strategy will be kept.
8. If the student does not improve sufficiently academically and achieve satisfactory course progress by the end of the next assessment period, Scotch College will advise the parents of the student in writing of its intention to report the student for breach of visa condition 8202, and that he has 20 working days in which to access the school’s internal complaints and appeals process.
9. The College will notify DEST via PRISMS of the student not achieving satisfactory course progress as soon as practicable where
1. the student does not access the complaints and appeals process within 20 days, or
2. withdraws from the complaints and appeals process, or
3. the complaints and appeals process results in favour of the College

2. Completion within expected duration of study (course progression)

1. As noted in 1.a., the College will monitor, record and assess the course progress of each student for the course in which the student is currently enrolled.
2. Part of the assessment of course progress at the end of each semester will include an assessment of whether the student’s progress is such that they are expected to complete their course within the expected duration of the course.
3. The College will only extend the duration of the student’s study where the student will not complete their course within the expected duration due to:
1. compassionate or compelling circumstances
2. student participation in an intervention strategy as outlined in 1.e.
3. an approved deferment or suspension of study has been granted in accordance with Scotch College’s Deferment, Suspension and Cancellation Policy.
4. Where the College decides to extend the duration of the student’s study, the school will report via PRISMS and/or issue a new COE if required.

3. Course attendance

1. Satisfactory course attendance is attendance of 80% of scheduled course contact hours.
2. Student attendance is:
1. checked and recorded daily
2. assessed regularly
3. recorded and calculated over each semester.
3. Late arrival at school will be recorded and will be included in attendance calculations.
4. All absences from school should be accompanied by a medical certificate, an explanatory communication from the student’s carer or evidence that leave has been approved by the Head of Year.
5. Any absences longer than 5 consecutive days without approval will be investigated.
6. Student attendance will be monitored by the Student Contact Officer every two weeks over a semester to assess student attendance using the following method.
1. Calculating the percentage of days the student has been absent as a fraction of the total number of days in the semester. A half day absence is counted as 0.5 days.
2. Any period of exclusion from class will not be included in student attendance calculations.
7. Students at risk of breaching Scotch College’s attendance requirements will be counselled and offered any necessary support when they have been absent for more than 10% of scheduled contact hours.
8. If the calculation at 3.f. indicates that the student has passed the attendance threshold for the study period, Scotch College will advise the student of its intention to report the student for breach of visa condition 8202, and that he has 20 working days in which to access the College’s internal complaints and appeals process except in the circumstances outlined in 3.j.
9. The College will notify DEST via PRISMS of the student not achieving satisfactory course attendance as soon as practicable where:
1. the student does not access the complaints and appeals process within 20 days
2. withdraws from the complaints and appeals process
3. the complaints and appeals process results in a decision for the College.
10. Students will not be reported for failing to meet the 80% threshold where:
1. the student produces documentary evidence clearly demonstrating compassionate or compelling circumstances e.g., medical illness supported by a medical certificate, and
2. has not fallen below 70% attendance.
11. The method for calculating 70% attendance is the same as that outlined in 3.f..
12. If a student is assessed as having nearly reached the threshold for 70% attendance, the Principal or his delegate will assess whether a suspension of studies is in the interests of the student as per Scotch College’s Deferment, Suspension and Cancellation Policy.
13. If the student does not obtain a suspension of studies under the Scotch College’s Deferment, Suspension and Cancellation Policy, and falls below the 70% threshold for attendance, the process for reporting the student for unsatisfactory attendance (breach of visa condition 8202) will occur as outlined in 3.h. – 3.i.