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Characteristics of the Student Population
The young people enrolled at the Berry Street School are aged 12 – 18 years , come from all walks of life and have an interest in learning . Our students have previously struggled in mainstream education settings and have either stopped attending or have been excluded . Our program aims to engage our students in their own measurable , visible academic growth , simultaneously teaching them strategies to become independent and autonomous learners in their schooling , pathway choices and adulthood .
The School Program
The curriculum at the Berry Street School is a specialised adaptation of the Australian Curriculum for students enrolled in years 7 through 10 .
Our curriculum is developed and delivered with high expectations for education attainment leading towards senior secondary certificates and further education and training . The curriculum program is based on five key learning areas – literacy , numeracy , Technology , the Arts and Health & Physical Education .
The Berry Street School also offers the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning ( VCAL ) to students who show readiness to undertake work at this level . We offer VCAL at both Foundation and Intermediate level . The program is determined by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority ( VCAA ). The qualification aims to provide the skills , knowledge and attributes to enable students to make informed choices about pathways to work and further education .
Individual Education Planning
The development of Individual Education and Learning Plans ( IEP ) is a key strategy in ensuring success for every student at the Berry Street School . Students are supported by key staff to develop a plan that identifies broad life and behaviour goals , as well as identifying clear learning goals and outcomes .
The curriculum program for each student is then designed around this plan , based on a program that focuses both on setting goals for improvement and allowing students to develop skills in their area of interest .
Each student ’ s IEP is reviewed and updated every term .
The Berry Street Education Model
In 2014 , we renamed our therapeutic approach , formerly known as trauma-informed positive education as the Berry Street Education Model ( BSEM ). BSEM has been developed and applied at the three campuses of the Berry Street School . The model combines Berry Street ’ s approaches to welfare , wellbeing , and academic learning for individuals whose trauma or experiences of chronic stress has impacted their neurodevelopment .
The Berry Street Childhood Institute is now sharing our Berry Street Education Model with mainstream and specialist schools across Victoria and beyond . We offer a suite of structured professional development , consultation and mentoring programs for school leaders and teachers . Our programs employ a blended learning methodology based on instructor
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