Department of Education - Victoria

Cobram and District Specialist School was established in 1978 in Cobram, located on the Murray River, 280 kilometres from Melbourne. 

The school's vision is to provide positive learning experiences, which allow students to achieve their optimum level of academic, social, emotional and physical independence. 

The school aims to ensure that its values of Respect, Safety and Try Your Best underpin all activity of the school. 

The school has made a concerted effort towards developing a whole- school approach to Behaviour Management through the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support. School values are taught, explicitly, on a weekly basis, through the Positive Behaviour Support program.   

Sixty four students are enrolled at the school. To be eligible to attend the school, students are assessed by a psychologist and diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability. 

Our curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Pathways Curriculum.  We work with students and parents to develop individual education plan (IEP) goals which address students' needs and teach independent living skills throughout their active learning.  The Victorian Curriculum is complimented by a range of additional learning experiences including speech therapy, occupational therapy, excursions, camps, community and environmental projects. Students are organised into nine classrooms, each catering for students of different age or need. Each year, the school makes use of resources and facilities from other local schools, service organisations and health experts to support its programs. 

We have a close connection with Banmira School, Belvoir and Wangaratta Specialist schools. Interschool sports such as swimming, athletics, cross-country, soccer, football, netball and basketball occur throughout the year. 

It is valuable to have a school such as Cobram and District Specialist School in our district. It means local families know their child is learning at their point of need, in a class with an average of 7 students and two staff members supporting them. 

Additional facilities include an art room, ALERT room and a multipurpose facility, which includes a separate kitchen. Students have access to ICT with students in the middle and senior years having one on one computer/Ipad access. The school's external facilities include playground equipment and an asphalt open play area. The school is adjacent to Cobram Primary School. Due to the small outside area we have use of Cobram Primary School's oval and playground for our senior students.

Our school has new modern administration offices, planning room, meeting room, staff room and classroom. 

A speech pathologist visits the school, once a fortnight, and a physiotherapist, once a term. A Mental Health Practitioner is available at the school two days per week and she also fulfills an occupational therapy role for all students. The school employs a Disability Inclusion Co-ordinator as well as a Welfare/Transitions Officer who has also taken on the position of NDIS Navigator to assist parents with this process. The School Council oversees the governance of the school and ensures the teachers have the resources and facilities to provide quality educational programs for the students. 

The senior unit is divided into VPC/VET and Independent Living Skills (SPEC). 

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.