Class Attendance, Missed, Cancelling & Rescheduling Classes

Regular attendance is essential for all classes. Students who are absent without valid reason for at least five classes during a semester will be required to relinquish their position at the end that term.

Punctuality is expected; all students must be prepared to begin lessons at the scheduled time. In instances where a teacher is delayed, any lost instructional minutes will be compensated at the end of the lesson. Should this arrangement conflict with prior commitments of students or parents, the missed time will be added to the next lesson.

If a student is unwell, the school must be promptly notified so the information may be relayed to the relevant teacher. Please contact us by TEXT at 087 2967455 or EMAIL: keenanschoolofmusic@hotmail.com. Students should not attend class if they are ill, as this poses a health risk to staff and necessitates rescheduling. Any student who appears unwell or exhibits flu-like symptoms will be sent home; we kindly request parents not to place staff in such situations.

Lessons missed due to illness cannot be refunded, but if a cancellation arises subsequently, the student will be contacted to fill the slot. For doctor or dentist appointments, rescheduling or arranging a swap may be possible when sufficient notice is provided.

When a teacher’s absence is due to illness or other professional commitments, affected classes will be rescheduled within two weeks whenever feasible. Rescheduling will depend on teacher availability rather than individual student preferences. Make-up lessons may be held Monday through Sunday; if rescheduling within two weeks is not possible, classes will be completed by the end of the academic year. Classes cannot be transferred or deducted from the following year’s schedule.

Once a rescheduled appointment is agreed upon, failure by the student to attend releases the teacher from any obligation to offer an additional replacement. Scheduling considerations include teacher workload, existing class times, and room availability. Cancellations after confirming a rescheduled session due to personal events (e.g., birthday parties, sports, concerts) will result in forfeiture of the make-up class. Additional accommodations may be offered at the teacher’s discretion if availability allows.

Teachers will seek to support students who miss class, but are not required to extend unpaid working hours to provide additional instruction. For example, teachers are not expected to add extra workload beyond scheduled hours for multiple missed sessions in one week.

Classes missed due to holidays taken during term time—including days before or after bank holidays, or attendance at Gaeltacht—will not be rescheduled. Such absences remain at the discretion of parents and students.

Keenan School of Music, Castleknock observes holiday schedules set by the education board, not those of local primary or secondary schools. To facilitate smooth operations and minimize misunderstandings, timely communication from all parties regarding scheduling changes is imperative. The school values a collaborative environment in which mutual respect for time and commitments is upheld. Exceptional circumstances not addressed in these policies will be reviewed on an individual basis by school administration. Our overarching goal is to ensure a fair, supportive atmosphere that prioritizes students’ educational needs while respecting teachers’ workloads.