School policies and reports
Our policies and reports help families understand how our college works.
Our annual report and college plan show what we’ve done and how we’re improving each year. Our polices address attendance, absences, behaviour, uniform and how we respond to your concerns.
NSW public colleges information
We are proud to be part of a connected and inclusive college system. Our college is one of more than 2,200 NSW public colleges. This network supports all students through consistent policies, shared resources and shared values, and high teaching standards.
Visit the NSW Department of Education to learn how NSW public colleges work together to give every student a strong start in life.
Annual college report
Each year, we reflect on the progress we’ve made and share it through our annual college report. The report highlights our achievements, challenges and growth. It gives families and our community a clear picture of how we’re tracking. Our annual college report is part of our commitment to being open, accountable and always improving.
Port Macquarie Campus
Westport Campus
College plan
Our college plan sets clear goals for learning, wellbeing and excellence. It guides the work we do to support our students' learning and growth. It’s flexible, updated regularly, and helps us stay focused on what matters most – giving every student the best chance to succeed. We shape our college plan together with our college community. This makes sure it reflects our shared priorities and values.
Port Macquarie Campus
Westport Campus
School behaviour support and management plan
Our college has a college behaviour support and management plan (SBSMP). The SBSMP helps us create a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment for all students. It sets clear expectations for student behaviour. This includes how we respond to bullying. We work together with our college community to shape the plan and review it each year.
Hastings Secondary College is committed to explicitly teaching and modelling positive behaviour and to supporting all students to be engaged with their learning.
The following documents outline our Behaviour Support and Management Plan for each campus.
AI policy
Read the General General Guidelines for the use of AI in Assessments (PDF 179 KB)
Mobile Phone and Digital Device Policy
We support the restrictions of mobile phones under the NSW Department of Education: Students’ Use of Mobile Phones in Schools policy (PDF 286 KB).
Students must turn off their mobile phones and put their devices in a locked pouch for the full school day, including recess, lunch and sport.
This is an approved NSW Department of Education option. In some specific learning environments, the use of mobile devices by students may be allowed allowed under the BYOD policy.
Buying devices for BYOD
The Department of Education does not make any recommendations nor endorse any suppliers. Parents and carers are asked to do their own research.
Families can buy devices directly from the vendors listed below at discounted prices.
There are some available options for parents and carers:
- HP Online Store provides recommended laptops models by using school code "HastingsSC". See the HP BYOD Flyer (PDF).
- Lenovo Student Store provides a discount for students from using their school email address (ending in @education.nsw.gov.au).
There are also retail outlets in Port Macquarie that sell laptop computers, including JB-HiFi, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Good Guys and Bing Lee.
Specifications
- Recommended screen size: 11" to 14". Larger screen sizes will consume more power, and shorten the battery life. A 14" or 15" laptop is quite large and can be heavy and will consume more power than a smaller device.
- Storage recommendation: 128Gb (or larger) Solid State Drive (SSD). These are fast drives, have no moving parts, generate no heat and are less prone to failure.
- RAM (memory): minimum 4Gb, 8Gb is highly recommended.
- WiFi: must support 5Ghz wireless N
Software
- A suite of applications is available and free to use for all Department of Education students. These can be accessed from the student portal.
- All other software is the responsibility of the student.
Operating System Choice
- Windows 11 (considered mainstream)
- Apple OS (may be advantageous to students with a Creative Arts focus)
- Chromebook (traditionally a cheaper alternative, low maintenance but also less flexibility)
Accidental loss and breakage insurance is recommended
A school Technical Support Officer (TSO) is available to help connect to the school WiFi. As this is a personal device, the school will not provide hardware or other technical support. The responsibility for all repairs or warranty claims lies with the student, parent or caregiver.
Please note the NSW Education policy - Student use of digital devices and online services.
School behaviour support and management plan
Our college has a college behaviour support and management plan (SBSMP). The SBSMP helps us create a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment for all students. It sets clear expectations for student behaviour. This includes how we respond to bullying. We work together with our college community to shape the plan and review it each year.
Hastings Secondary College is committed to explicitly teaching and modelling positive behaviour and to supporting all students to be engaged with their learning.
The following documents outline our Behaviour Support and Management Plan for each campus.
Port Macquarie Campus (PDF 140 KB)
AI policy
The general advice for the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in schools is constantly changing and being rewritten as new developments in GAI are reached. As of late 2023, The Department of Education (DoE) is yet to release its final guidelines for the use of AI in Assessment Tasks.
Read the General General Guidelines for the use of AI in Assessments (PDF xx KB)
Mobile Phone and Digital Device Policy
We support the restrictions of mobile phones under the NSW Department of Education: Students’ Use of Mobile Phones in Schools policy (PDF 286 KB).
Students must turn off their mobile phones and put their devices in a locked pouch for the full school day, including recess, lunch and sport.
This is an approved NSW Department of Education option. In some specific learning environments, the use of mobile devices by students may be allowed allowed under the BYOD policy.
Buying devices for BYOD
The Department of Education does not make any recommendations nor endorse any suppliers. Parents and carers are asked to do their own research.
Families can buy devices directly from the vendors listed below at discounted prices.
There are some available options for parents and carers:
- HP Online Store provides recommended laptops models by using school code "HastingsSC". See the HP BYOD Flyer (PDF).
- Lenovo Student Store provides a discount for students from using their school email address (ending in @education.nsw.gov.au).
There are also retail outlets in Port Macquarie that sell laptop computers, including JB-HiFi, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Good Guys and Bing Lee.
Specifications
- Recommended screen size: 11" to 14". Larger screen sizes will consume more power, and shorten the battery life. A 14" or 15" laptop is quite large and can be heavy and will consume more power than a smaller device.
- Storage recommendation: 128Gb (or larger) Solid State Drive (SSD). These are fast drives, have no moving parts, generate no heat and are less prone to failure.
- RAM (memory): minimum 4Gb, 8Gb is highly recommended.
- WiFi: must support 5Ghz wireless N
Software
- A suite of applications is available and free to use for all Department of Education students. These can be accessed from the student portal.
- All other software is the responsibility of the student.
Operating System Choice
- Windows 11 (considered mainstream)
- Apple OS (may be advantageous to students with a Creative Arts focus)
- Chromebook (traditionally a cheaper alternative, low maintenance but also less flexibility)
Accidental loss and breakage insurance is recommended
A school Technical Support Officer (TSO) is available to help connect to the school WiFi. As this is a personal device, the school will not provide hardware or other technical support. The responsibility for all repairs or warranty claims lies with the student, parent or caregiver.
Please note the NSW Education policy - Student use of digital devices and online services.
If you want to know more about how we keep students safe and supported at college, contact us