What policies can I expect my school to have?

Most schools have welfare policies that deal with the general wellbeing of individual students and groups of students. Policies may cover the following:

• expectations about attendance, homework and participation in co-curricular activities
• students' behaviour, questions of discipline and merit systems
• roles for students in Student Representative Councils and as leaders within the school community
• programs to encourage peer support among students
• child protection and drug education
• fitness promotion and nutritional education
• financial assistance for families who find it hard to meet the costs of students' schooling
• bullying.