port school synopsis 2016

Port School 2016

Port School Incorporated 2016 2

Principal’sReflections–BarryFinch

2016hasbeenabig year forPort School, having completedour first full yearof6 initiatives,mostofwhichwerefirstintroducedinthesecondhalfof2015.Wehavenowreachedthatpointwherewe are able to offer support to our students in a variety of ways that best suit theirneeds.

Port isnowaRegisteredTrainingOrganisation(RTO),deliveringCertificates Iand II inGeneralEducationforAdults(CGEA).Thesecoursesallowustotailorourdelivery,enablingourstudentstoachievequalifications thatwill help thementer into furthereducationoptionspost-school.We are also delivering industry-based courses that offer real employment options. Inconjunctionwith thiswehave successfully implementedaSchoolBasedTraineeshipProgram,which is putting students into the workplace. We have already seen some students beingofferedfull-timeemployment.

Our Early Learning Centre and Young Parent Centre have also completed their first full year.After some expected teething issues, both centres are now running extremely well. We arecurrentlyofferingupto20youngmothersandtheirbabiesasupportiveenvironmentforthemtoflourish.

TheMobileClassroomProgram,ouroff-siteoperation,taughtfromaconvertedbus, isstaffedbyoneteacherandayouthworker.Thisprogramoffersatransitionspaceforupto8students,whoareunlikelytosucceedinre-engaging,backintotheschoolcommunity.Weoperatedthisforthefirsttimein2016,andarehappywithhowithasdeveloped.Ourothernewinitiativeisthe OutReach Program, which is coordinated by a full-time staff member and supported byotherstaff.OutReachisworkingwithstudentswho,forarangeofreasons,findtheyareunableto come to school. We have successfully re-engaged a number of students, who are nowattendingclassesregularlyoncampus.Theyofferothersmuch-neededemotionalandacademicsupport.

These new initiatives, along with a well-resourced dynamic school program that has beendevelopedover24years,have resulted inPortbecominga schoolwithwhich Iamextremelyproudtobeassociated.

Barry Finch PortSchoolPrincipal


PortSchoolIncorporatedOverview

PortSchool isan incorporatedbody,overseenbyaboardofdirectorswhoguideandassist inthedirectionoftheschoolandwhoultimatelyperformance-managethePrincipal.ThePrincipalisthestrategicandoperationalmanageroftheentity,knownasPortSchoolIncorporated.

PortSchoolIncorporatedoperatesthefollowingentities:

PortSchoolandPortSchoolMobileClassroomEducationFacilities

PortSchoolYoungParentCentre[YPC]

PortSchoolEarlyLearningCentre(fullyACECQAregisteredchildcarefacility)[ELC]

PortSchoolRegisteredTrainingOrganisation[RTO]

PortSchoolOutReachProgram

PortSchoolPortisanindependentschoolthataimstoengageat-riskstudentsinyears8-12whohavenotbeen able to achieve success in mainstream school settings for a variety of reasons andcircumstances. The students at Port are successful because the school operates in a verydifferentwaytomostothers:smallclasssizes,hands-onvocational learning,personalisedandflexible learning groups, community projects, excursions. In addition, individual pastoral careand social support in amyriad of formats is offered from a variety of networks and externalagencies.

PortMobileClassroomThePortSchoolMobileClassroomisaninnovativeandprogressiveeducationalprogram,aimedatengagingourcommunity'smostat-risk,disadvantagedanddisengagedyouth.Theprogramoperateswithinthecommunityfromacustomized,convertedbus.Itisastructurededucationalprogram that encourages its participants to re-engage with the community and achieveeducational outcomes. Port aims to do this through the building of strong relationships andplacingdecisionsandconsequencesinthehandsofouryoungpeople.

PortEarlyLearningCentreAbrandnewfacilityexistsatPortSchool’sinnovativeELC.Thistargetedprovisionaimstoassistyoungteenmumsstayineducation,undertakeparentingprogramsandimprovethehealthofthemselvesandtheirchildthroughavarietyofhealthandsocialwell-beinginitiatives.Allthisishappening,whilsttheirbabyand/ortoddlerareattheELC.


PortYoungParentCentreTheYPCaimsatproviding‘flexibleeducationalandtrainingopportunities’toyoungparentswhohavedisengagedfromtheireducationandtraininghavingbecomepregnant,orbeingamum.These young people are also supported in transitioning into their parenting role by beingprovided with healthy and evidence based knowledge, effective parenting skills andempoweringconfidenceinthemselves.

PortRegisteredTrainingOrganisationIn 2015 Port School achieved status as a Registered Training Organisation (number 52718)throughtheTrainingAccreditationCouncil(TAC)ofWesternAustralia.IttradesundertheRTOname Skills Development Services and delivers Nationally Recognised Training. Throughout2016,Porthasbeenconsolidatingitsofferingsaswellasdeterminingwhatshouldbeinscopefor2017andbeyond.

PortOutReachProgramPort School's OutReach Program aimsto help encourage disadvantaged adolescents of thecommunity to re-engage back into the education system. The program is also designed tocomplement a student’s existing school plan. One aspect of the program is to help youngstudentsviapositivementoringandtheuseofamobileeducationmodelwhereactivitiesandenrichmentprojectsareusuallydoneoff-site.Ideallytheprogramworkswithsmallgroupswithan option of one-on-one support when needed. Using a variety of educational, social andemotionalwell-beingprograms,thestudentsareinvitedtoparticipateintheOutReachProgramiftheschoolfeelsthereisaneed.

InformationabouttheSchool

PortSchoolIncorporatedwasestablishedinNovember1992andiscelebrating25yearsin2017.ItwasoriginallysituatedintheheartofFremantle.Theschoolisaco-educational,privatedayschool for students inyears8–12.PortSchool isoneofWesternAustralia’s 'CurriculumandRe-engagement in Education' (CARE) Schools, specialising in working with adolescents atextreme social and educational risk. Students are referred to the school after encounteringseriousproblemsinmainstreamschooling.Thesedifficultiesmayarisefromacademic,socialorbehaviouralissues.Port School is funded by both State and Federal Government sources through recurring percapitagrants,programgrantsandotherindividualgrants.Thepercapitagrantsareallocatedonaquarterlybasisandareprovidedon thenumberof studentsenrolledandonanattendancecriterion. These criteriadifferbetween theStateandFederalGovernments. The students atPortalsopayfees.PotentiallythesefeescanbeheavilysubsidisedbyGovernmentdepartments,dependingontheirlivingcircumstances.


Port School’s current Principal, Barry Finchwas appointed at the end of 2009 and is the 8thPrincipal. Barry and his team over the last 7 years have driven a dynamic set of impressiveofferings,whichreachaboveandbeyondthoseofastandardschool.

Port is an independent school. Its umbrella organisation is AISWA, or the Association ofIndependent Schools of WA. This is the structure through which the Federal Governmentdistributesfundingforindependentschools.

PortSchoolnowresidesintheCityofCockburn.Itishousedinabuildingwhichwaspreviouslysquashcourtsandwhichtheschoolnowowns.PortreceivedaFederalGovernment‘BuildingtheEducationRevolution(BER)’Grantofsome$936,600.00,whichwasusedtomakesignificantmajorimprovementsandupgradestothebuilding2014/15theschoolsawamajorprojectandexpansionwiththepurchaseoftwoduplexproperties,culminatinginthedevelopmentof afullyoperationalYoungParentandEarlyLearningCentre.Theschoolhasalsodevelopeditsgroundswithgardens,seating,outdoorareasforthestudents,withsecurityfencing.Alandacquisitionproject that started in late 2013, in conjunction with Main Roads and the Department ofTransport, is still ongoing and has been constantly deferred because the land has been apotential alternative option for the Perth Freight Link. With input from local Senator LindaReynoldsandEnvironmentMinisterAlbertJacobMP,Portseeksactivelytoacquirethatlandin2017.

Port has also grown significantly in staff size. The board has approved the development of a$500kadministrativeblockforitsgrowingteamandhopestobeinsitubytheendof2017.

Thefocusoftheschoolhasalsochangedsinceitsinception.Originallytheschoolconcentratedon being an alternative school with an academic focus. Port has had to respond to andaccommodateanever-changing studentprofile. By2013, therewere86 students,withmorethan25%beingofaboriginaldescent.Thefundingarrangementsthatsustainitsprogramsfordisengagedandindigenousstudentshavealteredtoo.NowthatPortisanRTO,2016hasseenthe successful delivery of various certificate courses, an ever-expanding folio. The MobileClassroomfacility,OutReachProgram,ELCandYPC,aswellastheabundantin-housefacilities,haveenabledPorttolookatstudents’needsfromdifferentperspectives.

Wheremainstream educational settings have failed, or have not been suitable, Port really isensuringthatitsstudentsgainthebestpossibleopportunitiestosucceed.


SchoolProgram PortSchoolhasbecomeverysuccessfulat runningclasses for studentscoveringcoresubjectsandelectivesthatgivethestudentsachanceatre-engagingwitheducation.Theyalsolearnlifeskillswithworkshop, cooking, gardening and health subjects being covered. To achieve this,classsizesareverysmallandeveryeffortismadetoavoidpointsofconflict.Allstaffhavearealcommitment toworking in thisenvironmentandare selected throughaprocess thatoutlineschallenges they will face. There is an expectation that all staff will make a significantcontribution to the operation of the school through a highly collaborative approach toadministration.PortSchoolbelievesthattheclassroomteacherhasthegreatestunderstandingoftheneedsofthestudents.Thatisthebasisofalldecisionsmadeintheschool.TheprogramatPortisdiverseandcoresubjectsareverymuchbasedonabilitylevels.Classesaresplitbythismethod,andnotbyagerange.Forinstance,groupsAandBmaybelowerlevellearners.GroupsEandFcouldbeacertificategroupappropriatestudentswhopotentiallyshowmoreofaleadershipcapabilitywithintheschoolenvironment.

AtPortSchool,thereisastrongfocuson‘fillingthegaps’andimprovingthefunctionalliteracyandnumeracyofthestudents.TheschoolusestheAustralianCurriculumandoffersclasses inMath, English, Science and SOSE. These coursesmeet three times a week and are taught tomatchstudents’abilitylevels.LearningatPortisoftenhands-onandpracticalsothatstudentsareabletoworkontheoutcomesinavarietyofways,whichsuittheirindividuallearningstyles.

Anemphasisisplacedonbothone-on-oneinstructionandindependentlearningatbothendsofthe learning spectrum. Also, the diversity of the courses offered to students allows them tohaveasufficientamountofchoice inhowtheyengagewiththecurriculum.Portnowoffersavarietyofcertificatecoursesin:

• GeneralEducationforAdults

• ConservationandLandManagement

• SportsandRecreation

• Hospitality

• Construction

The school has certainly emerged into a leading provider in the CARE school arena, with amultitudeofofferingshighlightedinthediagrambelow.


In2015PortSchoolstartedworkingtodevelopanintegratedprogramofvocationalCertificateCourses for Years 10 and above, for implementation in 2016. This curriculum is designed tosupport studentson leavingschoolandentering theworkplace.Thesecoursesandassociatedworkplaceexperienceareinvaluableforemployers.Theyshowthatstudentscanachievebothpracticallyandacademically,asundertakenduringcertificatecourseworkandthemorepracticalhands-onworkplacements.

Graduating fromPortSchoolalso indicatesthatstudentshavere-engagedwitheducation,areconfidentandcanmanagetheirbehaviourtogoontoemployment,furthertrainingatTAFE,oreducationwithprivateproviders.

Port’sexciting2016programconsistedofthefollowingareas:

CoreSubjects–Maths,English,HealthandWellbeing

VocationalOptionChoices - Technology and Enterprise, Art, Cooking and Hospitality, Fitness,HealthandWellbeing,ConservationandLandManagement,Music,CommunityServices,BoatBuilding,TheatreandDrama.

SportsProgram-PE,Gym,FemaleHealthandExercise,Skateboarding,OutdoorEd,TeamSport(Training,coachingandleadershipprogram).

Young Parent Centre – Parenting workshops, promotion of health support services andcontinuationofavarietyofeducationaloptionswithsupportfromPort’steachingandpastoralstaff.

CoreSubjects

YoungParentCentre

MobileClassroom

EarlyLearningCentre

RegisteredTraining

Organisation

VocationalOptionChoices

SportsProgram

CommunityProjects

InternationalProjects

OutreachProgram


EarlyLearningCentre–ACECQAaccreditedchildcarefacilityofferingeducationandcaretotheyoungmums,babiesandtoddlersagedfrom0–3years.Theearlychildhoodeducatorsprovidequalitycareandeducationthroughplaythatencompassestheearlyyearslearningframework.

OutReach–SelectedPortstaffmembersareworkingwithyoungpeople,someofwhomarethehardesttoprevailupon,usinghomevisitsandexternaleducationalworkingoptionstotryandre-engagethembackintotheschoolenvironment.

MobileClassroom–Portisworkingoff-siteinaconvertedbuswithsomeofthestudentswhoaretoovolatilefortheschoolenvironment,orwhereithasbeenidentifiedthatthisisabetteroption.Studentsareencouragedtofollowthebusprogram’sfourprinciplesandworktowardsre-engagingbackintotheschoolenvironment.

CommunityProjects-Communitywork(ApexCampJurien).

InternationalProjects-Malaysiaexcursion(planning,fundraisingandculturalawareness).

Port is flexible in its approach to learning. Through Individual Education Plans, it identifieswhether it is more appropriate for a student to be partially based on work experienceplacements,orintheworkenvironment.

In2016Porthasbeenincreasingthenumberofschool-basedtraineeshipsandapprenticeshipsandhasengagedaparttimetraineeshipcoordinatortoassistinthisapproach.

AtPort,albeitnotalwaysassimplisticasthetablebelow,webelieve inagoodschoolmodel,great staff and a variety of options that lead toopportunities that inevitably aim to embracepositivechange.

PortSchool&Staff

VariedPrograms

Studentengagement

StudentSuccess


SchoolDevelopment&Achievements

Port saw an extensive building program in 2015 with the completion of the Early LearningCentreandYoungParentCentre.Schoolbusinesshashadcontinuedgrowthinstudentnumbersthroughout2016withover100onrollacrossthevariouseducationalareas.Despitethatgrowth2016hasbeenayeartoconsolidatesomewhatandworktowardsbestpracticeacrossallareas.There have still been areas developing and expanding, such as the RTO business and ever-changingMobileClassroomandOutReachprograms.

Intermsofcapitalbuildingprojects,2016hasbeenquietinthephysicalbuildsense.However,bubbling away beneath the surface is the design, concept and final plan for a new staffadministrativeblock,plannedtostartinmid-2017.

TheacquisitionanddevelopmentofMainRoad’slandisstillonthebackburner,awaitingafinalgovernmentdecisionon thePerthFreight Link,oralternative. This isdespite support for theschoolfrombothLaborandLiberalpoliticians.


PortRegisteredTrainingOrganisation

ThedevelopmentofPort’sRTObusinesshasrampedupsignificantlythroughout2016andthefuture expansion of its course scope looks exciting and promising for our students. Port isleadingthewayintheRTOandvocationaltrainingareaswithateamofpeopleworkingonthisareaalone.Thesectionsbelowhighlighttheexcitingchanges2016hasseen.

YoungParentCentre

The Young Parent Centre has certainly steamed aheadwith 21 youngmums enrolled during2016.Therehavebeenavarietyofqualitativeandquantitativesuccesses,whichcanbeseeninthetableoverleaf.

ApexGlobalAward

After five years, Port School and Klang Apex Club were awarded an international accoladeamongst the Global Apex Community for their support and ongoing work with Klang SpecialSchool(seearticlebelow).TheMalaysiaexcursionhasbeenbeneficialtosomanyyoungpeopleinbothcountriesandisfirmlyembeddedasoneofPort’shighlightseachyear.

Leeuwin

TheLeeuwinSailandLeadershipProgramhasbeenagreatadditiontoPort’sprogram,thatoffersstudents:

• Theabilitytobuildtheirwork-readyskillsandaddtotheirresume.Communication,leadership,teamworkandcollaborationarejustafewskillsemployersseek.

• Asafeandtrustedprogramwhichhasrunforover30years.• Voyagersareabletoexperiencesituationstheywouldn’tnormallycomeacrossinthe

classroomorworkplace.• TheopportunitytoearnWACEPOINTS.• TheabilitytocompletetheAdventurousorResidentialJourneycomponentoftheDuke

ofEdinburgh’sAward.• TheopportunitytoearntheOutdoorAdventurousActivityorPursuitforVenturerScouts

doingtheQueen’sScoutAward.• AninvitationtoreturnasaLeeuwinvolunteer.• ThechancetoexploreaninterestinaMaritimeorMarineCareer.• Theabilitytomakefriendsoutsideregularschool,university,workplaceorsporting

groups.• Theprovenopportunitytoimprovesocialconfidencefortheirfuture.


PortRegisteredTrainingOrganisationPathways

‘Pathways’ is probably the most important word when we look at the development of theVocational Education and Training (VET) programs at Port School. Previously, Port mainlyconcerned itself with ensuring it was giving great support and education until year 12, afterwhichstudentswerelargelylefttotheirowndevices.ItisPort’saimnowtoensureallyear11and 12’s have plans and processes in place that enable them to leave Port with realqualificationsandtheflyingchanceatajobandalong-termcareer.WithmanyofPort’scohortcoming from families of long term and often multi-generational welfare dependence, it isthroughtheseprogramsthatwehopetogivethesestudentsarealchanceofbreakingthiscycle.

PorthasforacoupleofyearsprovidedCertificatesI, IIandIII inGeneralEducationforAdults,which is a great grounding in Literacy and Numeracy. In addition to this, and from 2016 allstudentsaregiventheoptiontostudyoneofthefollowingCertificateIIvocationalcourses;PorthasdevotedthefirstfourperiodsonMondaystothis.

! Construction/Furniture

! ConservationLandManagement(CLM)studies(Forestry,ParkRanger)

! Hospitality

! SportsCoaching

! Beauty(proposed)

Approximately 70% of the school’s cohort are currently enrolled in these courses. SomestudentsaretooyoungtoenrolandothershaveelectedtodoenrichmentMathand/orEnglish.

Inmid2016PortSchoolemployedStephDanielasEmploymentCoordinator.Bytheendof2016theschoolhad8studentsoutonworkexperiencewithseveraloftheseexperiencestranslatingintotraineeshipsandapprenticeships.Stephisbuildingagreatemployercommunitywhoarealleagertohelptheschool.Manyoftheseemployerstakeasuccessionofstudents.InadditiontotheabovequalificationsPorthasnowdevelopedcontactswithinthevocationaleducationsectortotheextentthat,ifastudentdemonstratesaninterestinsomethingoutsideourofferings,theschoolisabletosupporttheminexternalstudies.


YoungParentCentreAcademicandOrganisationalSuccessduring2016STUDENT SUCCESS

Year12Student GainedentryintoMurdochUniversityOn-TrackProgramtoenablepathwayintoNursing/Midwifery

AlsogainedentryintoCertIVinNursingPreparationatTAFE

Year12Student CompletedCGEACertII

UndertakingMentalHealthCertIVatTAFE

Year12Student CompletedCGEACertII

EnrolledinCommunityServicesCertIII

YPCEnrolments 21studentsenrolledthroughout2016

ELCBabies 18babiesattheELCthroughout2016Including1communitybaby

VolunteersintheYPC MariaQuigglan–ServiceManagerfromVisyBoxes(everyTuesday)

CathyHoehn-BestBeginnings(Mondays,in-kindservice)

KristyMippy–SJOG(Wednesdays)

HayleySmith–CommunityServicesandEducationAssistant(Fridays)

DriversLicences 6girlshavepassedtheirL’ssincecommencing

SIDS training 10 girls have completed training in safe sleep practices with the Red Nose Association

Senior First Aid/CPR 8 girls have completed a Provide First Aid and CPR course

Mock Interviews Students have attended mock interviews at Visy corporate and manufacturing factory in O’Connor. This has helped build self-esteem and confidence to undertake a job interview

port school synopsis 2016

Documents