Q & A with Principal of Berry Street School

The Berry Street School is going from strength to strength, with a transformative year of expansion ahead for our four campuses – Ballarat, Morwell, Narre Warren and Shepparton.

Exciting plans are currently underway for a new campus in Narre Warren – a welcoming and purpose-built space for students, who’ve been through high levels of trauma, to get the support and education they deserve.

Principal of Berry Street School, Rebecca Robinson, shared with us how staff and students are readying themselves for the move to their new campus.

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My 18-year education career spans many different school settings, including government and independent schools, in both London and Australia.

Through working with female refugees and asylum seekers at an independent school, I was introduced to Berry Street through the innovative and trauma-informed Berry Street Education Model (BSEM).

I’ve always wanted to work with children and young people in out-of-home care, so I was delighted to join the Berry Street School in 2020. I’m currently the Principal and Head of Campus, Noble Park.

2. How does the Berry Street School work?

The Berry Street School works just as any other school would! We follow the Victorian Curriculum for our junior students and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) for our 15 years+ students.

However, our class sizes are a lot smaller, with 4 – 10 students, at least 1 teacher, and 1 education support member per class. This allows us to tailor our teaching to each student so that we’re meeting their different learning needs.

Sadly, many of our young people haven’t had the opportunities to attend school, as their peers may have. That’s why we invest in and have a strong focus on literacy and numeracy.

Lastly, while many schools support students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), I think that ours are by far the best I’ve ever seen (and I’ve worked in schools for nearly two decades!) Our IEPs are incredibly comprehensive, as they are arranged in consultation with the student’s family/carers, care team, as well as the young person. Not only do we set goals for the student in literacy, numeracy and wellbeing, but we include a ‘Focus Plan’ of the factors that can make that student feel uncomfortable, anxious or angry – and what we need to do to get them back into a calm frame of mind. These plans help ensure success for every student.

3. Why do our young people need a new purpose-built campus?

Firstly, our young people deserve the very best facilities – just like all young people do!

Many of the students who come to the Berry Street School have experienced trauma and disrupted attachment, social disadvantage and disengagement from school.

Our students also have a lot of needs, such as for quiet and calm spaces to meet their sensory needs. In transforming the Narre Warren campus, we have considered everything from the soundproofing of the walls to the selection of soft furnishings, to ensure their needs are met.

Many of the kids I’ve spoken to use the term ‘fake’ to describe our current campus, and that’s because the Noble Park campus is a re-purposed factory. In such a big and open space, you can imagine how every little sound is reverberated, which is not ideal when so many of our children and young people are hypervigilant.

Creating a purpose-built campus for our students is so important, as it shows them that not only are they safe, but that they’re worthy of a beautiful space.

4. What does the move to the new campus mean for the Berry Street School staff and students?

We’re all really excited and can’t wait to move to the new Narre Warren campus!

The teachers are feeling energised and looking forward to the teaching and learning opportunities that our new campus will offer the students.

And the students, they’re looking forward to saying ‘Goodbye’ to this makeshift school campus and being welcomed into a beautiful new space that was designed just for them.

Our current campus at Noble Park can no longer meet demand – the new Narre Warren campus will allow more young people to heal, learn and thrive with specialist support.

About the Berry Street School

The Berry Street School is a specialist independent secondary school for students in years 7 to 12. We have 4 campuses across Victoria in Ballarat, Morwell, Narren Warren and Shepparton. Berry Street School believe all children have the right to a high-quality education that prepares them to achieve their full potential and transition to their pathways of choice with confidence and hope.