Department of Education - Victoria

Ballarat Specialist School caters for students aged from 3 to 18 years who have a diagnosed intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound.  Ballarat Specialist School is a dual-campus K-12 school organised around four stages of learning - Early Learning (Ages 3-5), Primary School (Ages 5-12), Middle School (Ages 12-15) and Senior School (Ages 15-18). Our Early Learning to Middle School students are accommodated at our main Gillies Street Campus. Our Senior School students are located at our 8.09 hectare FARM Campus in Norman Street. Our current enrolment is approximately 430 students.

Our school's mission is "Achieving Personal Success Together". We strive to enable our students and staff to reach their full potential in a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment. Our educational programs provide a balanced and personalised curriculum where student achievement is acknowledged and celebrated.  

Ballarat Specialist School provides an inclusive and rigorous learning program that challenges and engages students to grow as passionate learners.  The school's teaching and learning programs are underpinned by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and The Victorian Pathways Certificate.  A comprehensive curriculum, with a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy, is embedded into curriculum maps for each of the  mini-schools within the school. Each curriculum map is designed to meet the learning needs of students at their individual stages of learning. This is supported by Individual Education Plans for all students. Communication is a keystone of all learning and curriculums within the school.  The school's pedagogy reflects current research, and best practice is enacted to maximise student learning outcomes.  Our teaching and learning programs are anchored in a gradual release of responsibility model to enable our students to become independent and lifelong learners.  Through Professional Learning Communities, Ballarat Specialist School Staff invest in the collective application of curriculum, assessment, shared learning, reflection and they engage in inquiry about student work. 

Our specialist programs include: Science, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education (PE) and Hospitality. The school also operates the Vintage Soul Op Shop and a café at our Gilles St and Norman Street FARM campus.  Through these enterprises, we can offer students pathways to future employment as these school-based work areas and programs are connected to the specific delivery of Certificate I in life skills and Certificate II Courses through local TAFE institutes. The courses conducted onsite are Kitchen Operations, Retail, Horticulture, Visual Arts, Sport & Recreation, Music Industry and Work skills.

Our supermarket, 'Mini `Woolies' provides an onsite and real life supermarket experience for our primary and middle school students at Gillies Street. 

Individual Educational Plans (IEP's) are developed by the Student Support Group, which comprises parents and carers, outside agencies, and school staff. The IEPs are then implemented by school staff, including Classroom Staff, Education Assistants and supported by the Integrated Service Team.

 

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.