An alternative for teens who struggle in mainstream schooling has opened in Broadmeadows.
A new school will operate under the auspices of Roxburgh College, offering alternatives tailor-made for the educational, behavioural or social needs of students in a way not offered in a traditional school environment.
Roxburgh College principal Fernando Ianni said the school had been pushing for a “gateway” school for some time, and jumped at the opportunity to manage one in Broadmeadows.
“For some time, we’ve felt there’s a need to capture kids who don’t gel with the mainstream education environment. And there’s been an intention to have an alternative education provision in the city of Hume.”
He said 2006 census figures showed low levels of education among 16-year-olds in Hume.
According to the census data, 35.7 per cent of students in Hume left school in year 10 or before, significantly higher than the Melbourne average of 27.9 per cent. Another report, jointly commissioned by Hume Whittlesea LLEN and Youth Connections in 2012, found almost six per cent of school students under the age of 16 in Hume missed about 40 days of school each year, three times the average.
Mr Ianni says the new school, a partnership with Hume council, will be modelled on The Pavilion School, developed in Melbourne in 2007 for adolescents who have disengaged or been excluded from mainstream
education.
The aim is to have two classes, each of about 15 students, attend either a morning or afternoon “studio session”.
The new Gateway School opened its doors last week. It is operating in the council’s Youth Services building in Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows.
Mr Ianni says he hopes the Gateway School will reconnect teens to education.
“The options are that they reconnect and then, potentially, they begin to identify that there are further pathways for them, whether it’s school, TAFE or employment,” he said.
For more information, call campus manager Justin Matt on 0475 836 988.
