Exemptions from Attendance and Enrolment

Under section 25 of the NSW Education Act 1990 a child may be eligible for an exemption from enrolment or attendance if the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning (or delegate) is satisfied that conditions exist which make it necessary or desirable.

The NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning has delegated the authority to Independent school principals to grant and cancel certain types of exemptions for students enrolled at their school.

These exemptions include two different types:

• exemptions from enrolment
• exemptions from attendance.

As Independent school principals have the authority to approve and cancel exemptions from enrolment and exemptions from attendance, no external approval is required. There is no obligation for an Independent school principal to grant an exemption for a student at their school.

Independent school principals have been delegated the authority to grant or cancel the following exemptions from enrolment on behalf of the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning:

• delayed commencement of Kindergarten due to age, where a child turns six years on or after 1 October or later in a school year
• delayed commencement of Kindergarten due to health, learning or social needs or disability of a child necessitating the continuation of an individual program supported by medical specialists not longer than six months after the child’s sixth birthday
• leaving school in Year 10 in special Circumstances – for apprenticeships and traineeships only.

Parent/carer(s) must make an application for an exemption directly to their school in advance of the requested exemption period.

Independent school principals have been delegated the authority to grant or cancel exemptions from attendance for students in the following circumstances on behalf of the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning:

• engagement in approved entertainment industry activities
• participation in elite arts or elite sporting events
• exceptional circumstances (including the health of the student where sick leave or alternative enrolment is not appropriate).

Exemptions from attendance can be approved for part or whole days. They can be approved for individual days or for multiple consecutive days for a defined period of time.

Parent/carer(s) must make an application for an exemption directly to their school in advance of the requested exemption period.

Another reason for an exemption from attendance may include:

• Direction under the Public Health Act 2010.

A parent/carer does not need to apply for an exemption in the case of a Public Health Act directive.