Berry Street School

The Berry Street School is a fee-free Specialist, Independent Secondary School with campuses located in Narre Warren, Morwell, Shepparton, and Ballarat. The school operates to educate children with a history of adverse childhood experiences who are at risk of disengaging from their education. The school adopts a trauma-informed approach to teaching and learning and puts the needs of students at the centre of everything we do. Our School’s vision is to create and sustain a safe and inclusive learning community where our students have access to high-quality education so they can thrive, achieve and belong.

The need for our school

The Berry Street School provides a highly specialised learning environment and long term option for students whose needs have not been met by mainstream schools or short-term programs.

Our School occupies a unique pocket of the flexible schooling sector, supporting some of the most vulnerable young people in Victoria. Our School’s socio-economic profile is one of the most disadvantaged in Victoria (7th most disadvantaged secondary school in the state). The Berry Street School believes all children have the right to a high-quality education that prepares them to achieve their full potential and go into their future with confidence and hope.

Our School offers a diverse curriculum to our students, including the Victorian Curriculum, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), Victorian Certificate of Education - Vocational Major (VCE VM), and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). Our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment is reflected in our small class sizes and high staff-to-student ratio. These factors enable us to engage students in their education and foster authentic and meaningful relationships.

Our teaching approach is characterised by flexibility and personalisation. Each student has an Individual Education Plan, which encompasses specific learning goals and outcomes, as well as wellbeing goals. By tailoring our instruction to the unique needs of each student, we ensure that they experience success and progress in their educational journey.

Berry Street Education Model

The Berry Street School is a BSEM lighthouse school. Our School demonstrates exceptional BSEM practice and we provide students with a whole-school approach to support their growth and achievement through BSEM. Our dedicated staff members seamlessly integrate BSEM principles into their professional practice, fostering an environment that nurtures personal development, identifies individual strengths, and cultivates students' psychological well-being. Our work revolves around five key domains: Body, Relationships, Stamina, Engagement, and Character. By prioritising these domains, we ensure that BSEM remains at the heart of everything we do.

Find out more

For more information on the Berry Street School, including enrolments, campus details, contact information and what student life is like, please visit the Berry Street School website below.