Our policies and reports

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.

Further information about compulsory school attendance:

School attendance policy

Application for extended leave - travel (PDF 815 KB)

Application for exemption from attendance: 99 days or less (PDF 1 MB)

Penrith Selective High School is committed to enhancing learning through the responsible and innovative use of technology. Students are encouraged to use digital tools safely, ethically, and purposefully. The school promotes equitable access to technology for all students to support focused learning and wellbeing.

Penrith Selective High School’s Bring Your Own Device program aims to improve student learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Penrith Selective High School provides considerable freedom to students in their choice of technology and in their use of technology in the classroom. The school does so with the expectation that students will make good decisions with regard to their personal use of technology.

The Computer User Charter is communicate to families annually and must be agreed to and signed before students are permitted to bring their device to school and connect it to school facilities.

Students who are experiencing difficulties or need support to have access to a device each day can apply to use a school owned device as part of our equity strategy. This resource is limited but every effort will be made to support all students. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s Deputy Principal if support is required.

Purchasing a device

We are pleased to advise that JB HI FI Solution for Education has set up a special portal for Penrith Selective High School for your consideration at different price points.

Please follow the steps in the graphic below to purchase the device or select the following link.

PSHS's JB HI FI portal

The school code is  PHSBYOD25.

Please note the following:

• Prices on the portal are inclusive of warranty (up to 3 years) and onsite service support except Mac Book which you will need to make an online Genius Bar reservation at your nearest Apple Store..
• All pricing is subject to change.

In line with NSW Government legislation and the Department of Education’s Mobile Phone Policy, Penrith Selective High School maintains a ban on mobile phone use during school hours to foster focused learning and wellbeing.

In the classroom and playground

• There is no mobile phone use for all students in Years 7 to 12 during the school day, including breaks.

• All phones must be off and away between 8.30am and 3.30pm, including recess and lunch.

• Students are able to use their phones for digital payments at the canteen, at the accounts office and at sporting venues. Students must place their phones into their bags once purchases are made.

• Students are all allowed to use their mobile phones when waiting for their parents/caregivers or at the bus bay after school hours.

• Students may be exempt for learning, wellbeing or medical purposes

• Students may still use their phones for educational purposes in the classroom if teacher permission is granted. For example:

  • taking photos of work displayed on the board
  • using an app specific to a subject
  • recording video for an experiment
  • taking photos or recording videos for school co-curricular or leadership events

During Excursions or Sporting Events

• Students must either turn off their phones or have them on silent
• Students may still use their phones for educational purposes or to capture memories during excursions if teacher permission is granted.

Our school's assessment policies are clearly outlined in our assessment booklets which are published to students and families annually.

Our assessment policy and illness and misadventure procedures aim to replicate the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Higher School Certificate process.

If students cannot attend school for a scheduled task due to illness or misadventure, they must follow the school's illness and misadventure procedures outlined in the relevant Assessment Booklet published each year.

Below are crucial documents that may assist in lodging an Illness and Misadventure Application:

Junior illness and misadventure flowchart

Junior illness and misadventure form

Senior illness and misadventure form