All communication between members of the St Andrew’s Cathedral School community, including staff, parents, carers and students, should reflect the School’s values of grace, integrity and justice.
The School encourages parents to be actively involved in their children’s education and in the School generally, believing that involvement enhances student learning. For this reason, the School places great emphasis on the establishment and maintenance of effective channels of communication with parents. Our procedures will be characterised by fairness, mutual respect and a spirit of cooperation in resolving issues and concerns.
What can parents expect of the School?
We are committed to preserving a safe learning environment where individual rights are respected and our School community works together for a common purpose. We are committed to dealing sensitively with parents and carers and will respond as quickly as is practical to all matters. We will maintain confidentiality where appropriate, releasing information on a “need to know” basis to staff. If parents have a specific request regarding the extent of access to information given, that request should be made known at the time of contact.
The School encourages parents to be actively involved in their children’s education.
Members of staff will endeavour to return phone calls and/or emails within two working days. Please be aware that it is School policy that teachers will not leave classes to receive or return calls or conduct interviews.
The School is committed to attempting to resolve issues of concern speedily for parents. Often the incompleteness of information, or the multiple demands on people’s time prevents an immediate resolution. Parents are asked for their patience in following through matters.
What does the School expect of parents?
Parents are asked to:
- direct their concerns to the appropriate staff member as outlined in the hierarchy;
- make an appointment in advance when seeking personal communication with staff;
- approach matters in a calm and rational manner, ensuring interactions result in a clear path to resolution;
- provide contact details so we can call or email you within two working days;
- communicate any extremely important matter in writing to ensure all the details of the matter can be fully understood;
- only contact staff members during office hours (Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm). Please refrain from contacting staff on their mobile phone outside these hours.
General hierarchy of contact for most issues
The following guide for parents and carers indicates the best manner in which to direct specific issues related to the welfare of your child.
While it may seem quicker to go to the higher authority in a sequence it is usually more appropriate to start with the person who knows the student or the details of the incident best. Only if the matter cannot be resolved at the initial level should it progress through the hierarchy of responses.
– Academic issues:
Year K-6
1. Class teacher
2. Grade Leader
3. Curriculum Coordinator (Mrs Moffatt)
4. Deputy Head of School (Primary) (Mrs Robson)
5. Head of School (Dr McGonigle)
Year 7-9
1. Class teacher
2. Head of Department
3. Director of Learning
4. Deputy Head of Middle School
5. Head of Middle School
6. Deputy Head of School (Secondary)
7. Head of School
Year 10-12
1. Class teacher
2. Head of Department
3. Director of Learning
4. Head of Senior College
5. Deputy Head of School (Secondary)
6. Head of School
– Pastoral/wellbeing issues:
Year K-6
1. Class teacher
2. Grade Leader
3. Deputy Head of Junior School (Mr Wu)
4. Deputy Head of School (Primary) (Mrs Robson)
5. Head of School (Dr McGonigle)
Year 7-9
1. Tutor
2. Head of Year
3. Deputy Head of Middle School
4. Head of Middle School
5. Deputy Head of School (Secondary)
6. Head of School
Year 10-12
1. Head of House
2. Deputy Head of Senior College
3. Head of Senior College
4. Deputy Head of School (Secondary)
5. Head of School
Common courtesy
The School values its relationships with parents but cannot accommodate aggressive or rude behaviour by either parents or visitors. Where behaviour becomes aggressive or rude, the person in question may be asked to leave the School grounds and/or may be referred to the Head of School.
Emergency contact with parents
Experience in other countries has shown that mobile networks may fail because of overload in a crisis situation. Should an emergency arise, the School website (www.sacs.nsw.edu.au) will be updated with messages to the School community on behalf of the Head of School. An emergency SMS notification will be sent once student safety is secured.
Chinese translation available (Getting in touch)
Please click to download the Chinese translation.