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Young people largely come to Key College through word of mouth recommendations. Having now been in existence for ten years, the College is known by the refuges; if young people living there are keen and committed, then these refuges refer them to the College. "They must have some academic capability,"says one staff member. "Our typical student has had some reasonable - though disrupted - schooling, and is self-motivated to get a School Certificate."
There is currently a waiting list, but the College is keen to maintain a limit on its numbers. "If we had 20 kids, it'd be too difficult - too many fires to put out, no matter how many teachers. I don't know if our system would work in a larger group."
Following the referral, a meeting is arranged between the young person and the school staff. There is a short period of mutual 'checking out': the student assesses the school; the school assesses the student's seriousness and motivation - including an indication of their reliability and any possibility to cause any difficulties. The school is careful of the group dynamics in introducing a new student and of the need for positive role models within senior students. There is then a relatively informal 'probation period' before a student is finally accepted.
In many cases, the students attending Key College have had negative and disrupted school experiences and, in some cases, are no longer allowed to attend mainstream schools. They have good and bad days, says one teacher. "On their good days, you'd wonder why they weren't in any school class. But one of their bad days at a mainstream school would result in their suspension and expulsion very quickly."
However, it's not the difficulties and problems that primarily characterise these students - its their choice and commitment about their attendance and involvement. "A lot aspire to mainstream success - and need to know this is not a mickey-mouse education. They love having books that they copy notes into - they're very proud of that. Many of the students have intense and busy lives outside the school already - commitments within the refuges and several have part-time jobs - but they like homework and ask for it. Most want a Year 10 certificate in order to get employment. This also allows access to apprenticeships. And, let's face it, most are bored to be hanging round in a refuge." The students consistently say that they want to get a certificate because it will open doors to employment.
In addition, the students express strong commitment to make something better of their lives: a desire to transcend their circumstances or the limitations of often-estranged families; an aspiration for a strong positive image of themselves, for pride in themselves. The challenge for staff is often to make a link between these intrinsic reasons for wanting to continue with an education - simply feeling better about themselves - and the extrinsic motivations of credentials that will provide access to employment.
Follow these links to read some of the stories told by Key College students [1] about their school:
. Alice
. Stephen
. Patricia (Trish)
[1] Names and some details in each of these stories have been changed to preserve anonymity.
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Alice
When I was thirteen, I had a fight with my mum and moved into a refuge. I used to go to TAFE then - for some automotive work - but I hadn't really been to school much at all for about three years! So the refuge said I had to go to a school - and found me this place.
I wasn't keen on the idea, because I thought it was a sort of behaviour school. So I didn't take it seriously at first and didn't turn up or, when I did, I had fights with people here. I was sent home for a week and didn't come back for two or three months - that was when I was in Year 9.
Then I moved somewhere else and I asked to come back to this school and since then I've only missed a few days here and there. When I started Year 10, I put my head down and went for it.
Why? Well, I was sick of my old life - sitting round all day, doing nothing. I thought, 'This is what I'm going to be like in 20 years if I don't do something about it!' I changed - I completed my Year 10 School Certificate. I've always been a troubled kid, always angry. My schoolwork went down the drain. I did no work … gave mouth to everyone. I always used to think, 'I'm an idiot, I'm stupid, I can't do anything…' Now I'm aiming to prove myself wrong - I don't want to be like that.
When I did the School Certificate examinations, I froze. I thought I'd done really bad, but was surprised that I passed so well. So I decided to come back and do Year 11. Now I think, 'Why not do a little more and get Year 12?' Finishing Year 12 is important to me; it will let me get into training for a qualification and if I work hard at it, there's heaps of money to be made. I guess that's what all young people my age think!
Now I've started in a traineeship three days a week and I come here to Key College the other two days. The job is really rewarding - it's hard at times, stressful, crazy… but it's also meant that I have now been able to move out of the refuge and I'm living independently. The school has helped with that. When you get stable accommodation, you can do really well at school.
This school got through to me somehow. The people here are more than just teachers - they're caring, open, very down to earth. They tell you stuff straight. They're very confronting: 'Do you want to do something with your life? It's your choice.'
But the good thing about this school is that the teachers also give us the support we need. If we have a problem, it's like a counsellor; you can go and talk with them. They still get you to do your work somehow. They make you think. They turn it around on you and say, 'You have to do this for yourself - you have to make the decisions.' Now I'm a faster learner, because I have that support.
And because the school is like a miniature family, when I was sent home it meant something. If you pull together a group of people who all have the same problems, they work them out with each other. You can't really fight here - yeah, you'll get in trouble but you won't necessarily get sent home. You'll have to talk it out. Because it's such a small school, if you don't work something out, there's always that one person left out. It's rare that arguments aren't worked out here.
But I advise people here, don't go home with the people from the school. Don't hang round after school with them - it's really hard if you live with them as well.
Usually the people who come out of here do pretty well for themselves if they have the motivation to go on. Once you get on that road to success, you have to stay on that road. Sometimes you might fall down, but you have to get back up.
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Stephen
I'm in Year 9 now.
I've been in care of the Department for years. At my previous school, I got expelled for having a big fight with a teacher … we hated each other's guts. So they sent me to a behaviour school … that's a Special Support Program … it's a place for 'behaviour challenged kids'. I didn't want to be there, but they gave me no choice. So I spent two terms trying to get out of there and I took it to the extreme. I was expelled from there too, so I was out of school.
I was staying in a refuge and they found out I was out of school and mentioned this place. They said it was a good school that runs well with the refuge and that it's easy to get your work done. I was looking for another school to go to because I want my Year 10. I'll do anything I can do to get my Year 10. Well, my [foster] parents want me to do at least Year 10, and that's all I want to do, 'cos I don't want to do the extra hard study for Year 11 or 12. As soon as I get Year 10, I'll do an apprenticeship in concreting. (But when I've done concreting for four years, I might come back and do Year 11 and 12.)
So I came here for an interview and about two weeks later I started. I missed a couple of days but then in the two-week trial I got to know the kids and the way that the school works. I agreed that I wanted to stay. I'm now enthusiastic about coming to school and very rarely miss a day even though it's an hour on the trains each way to get here. I've now caught up on all the work I've missed.
It's different here. It's mainly because I chose to be here. They said they're not going to make me be here if I don't want to be. Here they also treat you more as an adult … half the time … when you're actually behaving. They help you when you need it, and they can do that because it's a smaller classroom too. We've got our own desks here too, so we're not squashed up with other people.
I'll be doing work experience soon too, but I want to do something that I want to do - I'm still working that out. My girlfriend is doing childcare - maybe that's something I'll check out. I was copping abuse through my childhood, so I'd maybe be able to help there.
Even though the kids here have problems of their own, it's easier to get on with them because some of them have got the same behaviour problems as me … and some don't. But you feel like you know the person 'cos of the same background.
I'm pretty much the class clown still. I know my limits, but half the time I still push those limits… Half the time the teachers know it's just mucking round. But I think I've changed - behaviour-wise I think I have.
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Patricia (Trish)
I heard about this place from my sister who came here a couple of years ago. At my previous school I had poor attendance and my schoolwork was not up to date. I was having troubles with relationships … troubles with myself. I was going downhill, getting lazy and depressed. At school I was just thinking about my problems all day long and sometimes I would just rush out of classes in tears.
But I wanted to show my family that I can do something - they didn't finish school. Also, I wanted to be a good role model for my little brothers and my sister. But mainly I wanted to show people that have put me down in the past that I can do it … and show myself!
So I'm doing Year 10 now and it's my choice: I want to do better. I want to go to Year 12. Maybe I'll be a singer or study social justice.
Here the teachers are easier on you - the work's easier 'cos you get more personal help. There's less pressure and you get some leeway … but there's still a line. It's placid here, a place I like. You know, normal schools should be a place that kids like!
And there's work experience (I did some work waiting in a coffee shop) plus life skills and lots of discussion: you learn how to act towards others, and where other people are coming from.
What do I want to say? You can choose another life. And this place provides the experiences and the people to help you build that inner strength.
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