By John Stewart, Conductor of Living School
A key focus of any school – and one of the driving forces for creating Living School – is to have students engaged in learning. Engagement is focus, resilience, interest, social-connection, relational and commitment. These are human qualities that can never be replicated in an AI system – and, for our future, are the character traits that will ensure security for all our futures.
Engagement in school is turning up and not opting out.
The Menzies Institute published research back in 2013 around the benefits of engagement in school:
“Children’s interest and engagement in school influences their prospects of educational and occupational success 20 years later, over and above their academic attainment and socioeconomic background, researchers have found.”
https://theconversation.com/school-engagement-predicts-success-later-in-life-15157 accessed 8 August 2025
And I am proud to share our attendance data – which I think speaks volumes for our school’s ‘happy’ culture. Our attendance is in the high 80% bands – and in some year groups above 90%!
Engagement is becoming a global challenge – and not just in school. The latest results from a Gallup poll shows that in our workforce only one-third of employees are thriving.
Engagement is ‘learned’ – and having opt out choice is easier but not better. I remember my own youth, where my parents pushed me to attend Anzac Day marches, events and farm-work on weekends when others were surfing and doing more ‘fun’ things. I remember the hours of weeding my father used to ‘make’ us do. I did not like it – but I recognise now that it was foundational.
Everyone is different – and my life’s experience is my guide. At Living School we focus on supporting diversity – but as a community collective. We have expectations and we have our codes of conduct. But… even as an independent school, we have our legal and governmental responsibilities that we MUST manage and follow. And parents have a responsibility – which is outlined as:
“Legally, it is the responsibility of the parent or carer of a child of compulsory school-age, not the school, to ensure that their child is enrolled in, and attending school, or is registered for home schooling (section 22 of the Education Act). Once enrolled, children are required to attend school each day the school is open. It is an offence under the Education Act (section 23) if a parent/carer does not meet the legal obligation in relation to the enrolment and attendance of their child(ren) at school or registration for home schooling.”
Attendance at school is a key aspect of good learning. If students miss days at school the learning programs that are designed around a constructivist step-by-step approach lose momentum and miss important stepping stones – which leaves big gaps. Sometimes we can stretch out and find the path, but other times we just can’t move forward.
WHAT MUST SCHOOL DO?
I know citizens don’t always like regulation – but legislation is what we must abide by. We have requirements and our data is tracked with census data requirements. We must communicate with parents to receive notification. We must reach out to our parents/carers if we have not received any notification after three days. We must reach out again after seven days. And if we are not receiving any reason for non-attendance we must hold that data – with government codes that we submit annually.
Parents seeking extended leave must have the Conductor (principal) approve the leave.
We have clear steps we must follow – as non-attendance can put the child at risk. In all steps, it is about our community working together to support and resolve challenges.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS STRUGGLING TO ATTEND?
Living School does understand there are challenges for our students at different stages of their schooling ‘life’. I remember being bullied in Year 5, and missing weeks of school to avoid the harassment. I also know that I needed to ‘own’ my role in that terrible time of my schooling. But it was the support of my principal that guided me through that season of discontent.
As educators, we can offer support – and we can offer exemptions. We can offer modified timetables and we can work with parents to develop a return to regular attendance plan. But we must communicate and we must adhere to the regulations that govern our school.
HOW DO WE LET YOU KNOW?
With regulation comes administration. Previously, we had Bree sending out emails to parents one-by-one. This was so time-consuming and laborious. We have now Classter and so you will get automated emails – using templates.
HOW DO YOU LET US KNOW?
Very soon – very, very soon – we will be launching Classter as a new tool. It will allow parents to log into an app or website portal and see attendance and quickly inform us. This will allow us to further refine our communication and organisation – two keys that we are targeting in our strategic plans. Now, I know we have parents who do not want to be in an ‘app’ world – so you can still email [email protected]
In all these areas, we are here to support – and we do rely on our community’s support – and trust. I know from our data, we have happy kids – and they are engaged in our learning experiences. That is so important and such a foundation of this incredible school ecosystem.