Staff

A high caliber full-time teaching staff provides an excellent academic environment for the delivery of English (ELICOS) courses. Administrative staff are responsible for the day-to-day management and the care of the enrolled students. The curriculum development, delivery and on-campus assessment of applicants is also administered by the dedicated staff.

Policy

Australian Government regulations require education institutions to have policies and procedures for their operation and administration. The Pittwater House Schools have formulated and published policies and procedures to form the basis of safe and efficient operations within the organisation.

The policies and procedures are also designed to ensure that the aims, principles, objectives and core values of the School are clearly outlined.

Minimum Entry Requirements and Pre-requisites

ESS 7-10 Pathway:

• The ESS course commences at the start of each school term.
• English will be assessed on arrival. Students should have a pre-intermediate level of English before beginning the ESS 7-10 course. Students do not have to sit an IELTS test prior to applying.
• Satisfactory behaviour/attendance record should be reflected in school reports.

ESS 11 Pathway:

• The ESS course commences at the start of each school term.
• English will be assessed on arrival. Students should have a pre-intermediate level of English before beginning the ESS Year 11 course. Students do not have to sit an IELTS test prior to applying.
• Satisfactory behaviour/attendance record should be reflected in school reports.

Academic English:

• The AE course commences in September
  
• English will be assessed on arrival. Students should have proof of an IELTS score of 5.0 or equivalent before beginning the AE course.
• Satisfactory behaviour/attendance record should be reflected in school reports.

Conditions of Enrolment

1. Contract
   The offer by Pittwater House Schools (the School) to reserve a place for the student and the payment of fees to secure that place creates a binding contract between the applicant and the School.
2. Expectations
   Students enrolled at the School are expected to be motivated to high achievement, to wear the uniform with pride, to be well groomed, to wear a conservative hair style, to participate fully in the life of the School, to attend classes regularly and punctually and to conform to the discipline policy of the School.
3. Fees and Charges
   1. All fees and charges are payable in Australian $ prior to commencement of the program in accordance with the Current Fee Schedule published from time to time.
   2. Fees for each year are payable in full in advance.
4. Confirmation of Enrolment
   'Confirmation of Enrolment' will be issued after payment of invoice for first year's fees.
5. Refunds
   1. The $200 Enrolment Fee is not refundable.
   2. All fees paid will be fully refunded if the student fails to be issued with a student Visa to study at the School and produces documentary evidence to that effect from the Australian immigration authorities. This refund is payable within 28 days of receipt of written application.
   3. Where written notification of cancellation of the enrolment is received by the School prior to commencement of the program the following policy applies:
      1. Cancellation 10 weeks or more prior to commencement Enrolment Fee + 15% of first year's tuition fee retained by the School.
      2. Cancellation within 10 weeks prior to commencement - Enrolment Fee + 35% of first year's tuition fee retained by the School.
      3. Cancellation after commencement date - no refund.
      4. Where a refund is given and a commission to an Agent has been paid the amount of commission will be deducted from the refund.
      5. The above procedures are in accordance with the ESOS Act National Code para 42. These procedures do not remove the right to take further action under Australia's consumer protection laws.
      6. Full refunds (including the Enrolment Fee and Tuition Fees paid) will be made if the School fails to commence the course of study for which the student has applied (in accordance with para 44 of the ESOS Act National Code).
      7. There are no refunds for pre-paid extra services where the School has forwarded payment to other service providers (e.g. air port pick-up, initial payments to Homestay hosts, etc). School uniform items may be returned if not worn and with proof of date of purchase.
      8. Dispute resolution processes do not circumscribe the student's right to pursue other legal remedies
6. Enrolment, Suspension and Expulsion
   1. In line with Federal Government rulings a student must stay with their initial course provider for at least 12 months.
   2. The student will attend punctually all lessons, classes and examinations and submit all assessment tasks for the courses in which the student is enrolled.
   3. Australian education regulations apply regarding student attendance
   4. The student will abide by the rules and regulations (as defined in the Student Handbook) at all times.
   5. The Principal (or his delegate) reserves the right to suspend or expel any student who fails to meet (without good reason) the requirements of Clause 6 OR whose acceptance to the School was based on false documentation OR non - disclosure of past bad behaviour or criminal record.
   6. Where circumstances permit the School will inform the student, parent and / or guardian that the student is in danger of suspension/expulsion so as to allow the student to make good.
   7. In the event that a student is expelled any refund is entirely at the discretion of the School.
7. Guardianship
   All students under the age of 18 years must have a guardian who is over 21 years of age, resident of Sydney and who is readily accessible to the School at all times. If your family does not have a suitable person willing to act as guardian then the School can arrange this service. If the student is over the age of 18 years then they must nominate an emergency contact person in Sydney if they do not have a guardian.
8. Accommodation
   The School can arrange accommodation through Pittwater Lodge, the School's fully supervised boarding facility or through Homestay Network which is the appointed homestay provider for the School. The School will not permit students to share flats and provide for themselves without the written permission of the parent / guardian and then only where the students are over 18 years of age.
9. Entry Requirements
   1. For entry into any program the student must have completed the relevant studies overseas.
   2. An initial understanding of English is required for entry into the English tuition courses.
   3. Students will not be admitted to Yr 11 / 12 programs unless the English level is equivalent to IELTS 5.0. or higher
   4. Students will not be admitted to Yr 8 / 9 / 10 unless the English level is equivalent to IELTS 4.5. or higher
   5. Students will not be accepted if the age on graduation at Yr 12 Higher School Certificate will be greater than 21 years.
10. Pre-requisites
    1. Applicants for courses may have prior relevant experiences and/or qualifications therefore, under Australian Quality Training Framework guidelines, Pittwater House recognizes prior learning and qualifications. Please notify the School on this form of any prior learning and qualifications.
    2. Note carefully that certain courses require previous study. The School requires evidence such as school reports to ensure students have completed the required number of years prior to entry in a year or course. Note there are minimum levels of English proficiency required for most courses.
11. Attendance
    International students on a student visa must not be absent for more than 20% of the course programme. DIMIA regulations require the school to calculate attendance rates constantly.
12. Medical Consent
    In circumstances where the student requires urgent medical attention and it is not possible to communicate with the parent/guardian the School is authorised to arrange appropriate medical treatment in accordance with the advice of qualified medical practitioners.
13. Variation to Terms of Contract
    Any variations to the terms and conditions of this contract must be in writing and signed by an authorised officer of the School.
14. Privacy Statement
    1. i. The School collects personal information, including sensitive information about students and parents or guardians before and during the course of a student's enrolment at the School. The primary purpose of collecting this information is to enable the School to provide schooling for your son/daughter.
    2. Some of the information we collect is to satisfy the School's legal obligations, particularly to enable the School to discharge its duty of care.
    3. Certain laws governing or relating to the operation of schools require that certain information is collected. These include Public Health and Child Protection laws.
    4. Health information about students is sensitive information within the terms of the National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act. We require medical reports about students from time to time. If you do not consent to us obtaining this information you must advise us.
    5. The School from time to time discloses personal and sensitive information to others (sports coaches, other schools, government departments, medical practitioners and people providing services to the School, including specialist visiting teachers, music tutors and volunteers).
    6. If we do not obtain the information referred to above we may not be able to enrol or continue the enrolment of the student.
    7. Personal information collected from students is regularly disclosed to their parents or guardians. On occasions personal and group achievements, results and contributions are published in School newsletters, magazines and the web site.
    8. Parents may seek access to personal information collected about them and their son/daughter by contacting the School. Students may also seek access to personal information about them. However, there will be occasions when access is denied. Such occasions would include where access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, where access may result in a breach of the School's duty of care to the students or where students have provided information in confidence.
    9. As you may know the School from time to time engages in fundraising activities. The information received from you may be used to make an appeal to you. The School will not disclose the personal information collected to third parties for their own marketing purposes without your consent.
    10. If you provide the School with the personal information of others, such as doctors or emergency contacts, you should inform them that you are disclosing that information to the School and why, and that they can access that information if they wish and that the School does not usually disclose the information to third parties.
15. Parent / Guardian Agreement and Indemnity
    I understand and accept the conditions for enrolment at The Pittwater House Schools. I further agree to give permission for my son/daughter to attend and participate in activities organised by the School. I understand that every reasonable care will be taken of my child but in the event of any accident occurring I shall not hold the School responsible or any other person liable, except where negligence on the part of any employee of the School is proven in a court of law in Australia.

The Pittwater House Schools Ltd delivers the Foundation Year Certificate (PTW) programme under licence agreement from the University of New South Wales.

• The Pittwater House Schools Ltd CRICOS Provider No. 00897J
• The University of New South Wales CRICOS Provider No. 00098G
• The CRICOS Course Code is 050714G