In recent years, a growing number of parents have been stepping off the mainstream carousel of fact cramming, regular homework and testing and choosing non-mainstream educational settings for their children.
Indeed, a 2023 Senate report found school refusal in Australia is at an all-time high. In NSW alone, up to 5.4% of all school aged children and young people in are affected by school refusal, and this trend is increasing.
Leading up to the release of the Senate report, it was becoming evident that many families were becoming fed-up with the mainstream schooling system and finding alternative means of educating their children.
In 2022, figures from the NSW budget estimates revealed that around 9,000 of the state’s students were registered for homeschooling, with other states seeing a marked rise in the number of children leaving the mainstream school system.
One school that considers itself a strong alternative to mainstream education is WAYS Secondary School, an Independent high school offering years 9, 10, 11 and 12, including NESA accredited ROSA and HSC courses. Once students complete these courses, the school assists them to achieve their future goals into further education, training and employment.
The school’s principal, Dr Terri Said, who is also a trained Psychologist, believes alternative schools offer “an unconventional approach to education.”
“They suit parents who consider traditional schooling a straitjacket and children who don't flourish in more traditional settings,” she said.
“With an ever-increasing emphasis on exam results, it takes a brave parent to step off the mainstream carousel of fact cramming, regular homework and testing, and bravery is what we’re seeing with alternative schooling slowing gaining traction. It often comes down to a matter of fit.”
Dr Said noted that the consideration of the fit for a student needs to a school’s philosophy and practice is critical.
“Parents are encouraged to investigate all schools’ unique offerings and select key criteria on what might best suit their child’s needs,” she said.
“Some children need a setting with smaller class sizes and a more personalised nurturing approach offered by some alternative models and others need a setting with greater curriculum options and larger student body offered by mainstream models.”
Small class sizes, quite typical of most alternative schools, offer substantial benefits, Dr Said pointed out.
“Students are more engaged, supported and learn better and faster. Teachers build stronger rapport with students leading to greater confidence as a learner,” she said.
“Students can not fall under the radar. Students learning needs are also identified quicker and are managed more efficiently. More cohesive class culture is achieved in a smaller class.”
Dr Said pointed to the example of WAYS Secondary (WAYS) Based in Bondi Beach as an alternative school that teaches students “to learn how to learn” using an effective adolescent centric approach to learning, with student wellbeing at its heart.
In the past 2 years, WAYS has seen a 35% increase in inquiries. Of these 53% of students have transitioned from public schools, 7% from other alternative schools, 30% from private schools and 10% from Catholic schools.
‘Adolescent centric education a key building block of academic success’
A core part of adolescent development, Dr Said emphasised, is that young people flourish when their wellbeing is as prioritised as their learning, when they feel seen, heard and connected to people, especially their teachers.
“Adolescents’ brains are also unique,” Dr Said pointed out. “They need a different routine than what is offered by some mainstream models [i.e. a late start, not constantly moving between classrooms and consistency in the management of discipline].”
Adolescents also need to be able to express and explore their individuality, she noted.
“Some alternative schools such as WAYS recognise this and consequently execute policies that are aligned with this concept, such as no school uniform and all gender bathrooms.”