RE-ENGAGING STUDENTS IN EDUCATION

RE-ENGAGING

STUDENTS IN

EDUCATION

Success Factors in Alternative Schools

Martin Mills

University of Queensland

Glenda McGregor

Griffith University

RE-ENGAGING STUDENTS

IN EDUCATION

Success Factors in Alternative Schools

By Martin Mills and Glenda McGregor, May 2010

ISBN: 978-0-646-53537-1

SUBJECTS: EDUCATION; CHILD AND YOUTH

STUDIES; SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE

REPORT ON A RESEARCH PROJECT

CONDUCTED FOR THE YOUTH AFFAIRS

NETWORK OF QUEENSLAND.

Research Steering Committee:

Ms Linda Llewellyn, Brisbane Catholic Education

Dr Glenda McGregor, Griffith University

Prof Martin Mills, University of Queensland

Ms Frances Missen, Albert Park Flexible Learning

Centre/Brisbane City Council

Mr David Powell, Youth Affairs Network of Queensland

COPYRIGHT ? 2010 YOUTH AFFAIRS

NETWORK QUEENSLAND INC.

Some rights reserved. This document is licensed under

a Creative Commons License.

It can be shared under the conditions specified by this

license at

by-nc-nd/2.5/au/.

All photos in this document were taken at the Moreton

Bay Re-engagement Forum on 11 November, 2008, with

the consent of participants.

Report layout and cover design by

Niche Studio

Ms Maren Strachen, YWCA Brisbane

Dr Sandra Taylor, Queensland University of Technology

Ms Bernadette Wood, Brisbane Catholic Education

Youth Affairs Network of Queensland acknowledges

funding support from the Office for Youth ¨C Department

of Communities.

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Re-engaging students in education - Success factors in alternative schools

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowlodgements ................... 04

About the Youth Affairs

Network of Queensland ............ 05

Foreword ...................................... 06

Executive Summary ................... 08

Key Findings and

Recommendations...................... 09

Enrolment and Attendance.................... 09

School Environment ................................ 10

Factors Influencing Early

School Leaving ........................... 14

Social and Economic Factors................ 14

Schooling Factors ................................... 15

The Research Findings ..........17

Resourcing of the sites........................... 18

Background of Staff ................................ 21

Who Goes to Flexible Learning

Schools/Centres?.................................... 23

Curriculm ................................................... 10

Why Do Young People Attend

These Centres? ........................................ 26

Pedagogy .................................................. 10

Limitations ................................................ 32

Post-schooling Pathways .......................11

Conclusion ...............................33

Staffing .......................................................11

Funding .......................................................11

Introduction ................................. 12

References...............................34

Appendix 1:

Details of the 5 Sites ..............35

Re-engaging students in education - Success factors in alternative schools

3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research project

would not have been

possible without the

support and dedication of a

number of individuals and

organisations.

Firstly thanks must go to the young people at each of

the five sites who shared their views, opinions and

insights with us. Thanks also to the staff and volunteers

at those sites for their openness and willingness to

share their perspectives with us.

YANQ also expresses its gratitude to the members

of the steering committee who have guided the

course of this research project from the beginning and

contributed invaluable advice, wisdom and support. The

members of the steering committee are:

s -S ,INDA ,LEWELLYN "RISBANE #ATHOLIC %DUCATION

s $R 'LENDA -C'REGOR 'RIFlTH 5NIVERSITY

s 0ROF -ARTIN -ILLS 5NIVERSITY OF 1UEENSLAND

s -S &RANCES -ISSEN "RISBANE #ITY #OUNCIL AND

Albert Park Flexible Learning Centre

s -R $AVID 0OWELL 9OUTH !FFAIRS .ETWORK OF

Queensland (convenor)

s -S -AREN 3TRACHEN 97#! "RISBANE

s $R 3ANDRA 4AYLOR 1UEENSLAND 5NIVERSITY OF

Technology

s -S "ERNADETTE 7OOD "RISBANE #ATHOLIC %DUCATION

Secondly, the research would not have been possible

without the in-kind support from the following

organisations:

s "RISBANE #ATHOLIC %DUCATION

s "RISBANE #ITY #OUNCIL AND !LBERT 0ARK &LEXIBLE

Learning Centre.

s #ENTRE FOR ,EARNING )NNOVATION 1UEENSLAND

University of Technology.

s 3CHOOL OF %DUCATION 5NIVERSITY OF 1UEENSLAND

s 3CHOOL OF %DUCATION AND 0ROFESSIONAL 3TUDIES

Griffith University.

s 97#! "RISBANE

YANQ also expresses thanks to Ms Rachel Martin, a

LOTE teacher and post-graduate psychology student

who volunteered her time to conduct interviews for the

research.

Thanks also to Ms Marilyn Topp, whose keen eye for

grammar and punctuation was that important bit of spit

and polish the report needed.

Finally YANQ would also like to thank the Queensland

Government Department of Communities for the

funding it provides to YANQ and which assisted us to

undertake this project.

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Re-engaging students in education - Success factors in alternative schools

ABOUT THE YOUTH AFFAIRS NETWORK OF QUEENSLAND

The Youth Affairs Network

of Queensland Inc. (YANQ)

is the peak community

youth affairs organisation

in Queensland,

representing individuals

and organisations from

Queensland¡¯s youth sector.

We promote the interests and well being of young

people across the state by:

Contact Details

s DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO MEMBERS THE YOUTH

sector, and the broader community

Telephone: 07 3844 7713

s UNDERTAKING CAMPAIGNS AND LOBBYING

Freecall: 1800 188 899

s MAKING REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERNMENT AND OTHER

influential bodies

s RESOURCING REGIONAL AND ISSUES BASED NETWORKS

s CONSULTING AND LIAISING WITH MEMBERS AND THE lELD

(free for callers outside the

Brisbane metropolitan area)

Facsimile: 07 3844 7731



s LINKING WITH KEY STATE AND NATIONAL BODIES

s INITIATING PROJECTS

s HOSTING FORUMS AND CONFERENCES

s INPUT INTO POLICY DEVELOPMENT

s ENHANCING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE

youth sector

We advocate on behalf of young people in Queensland,

especially disadvantaged young people, to government

and the community.

We promote and support cultural diversity. We

encourage the development of policies and programs

that respond to the rights and needs of young people.

YANQ employs a small team in its Brisbane based

secretariat. The organisation is managed by a

committee.

Re-engaging students in education - Success factors in alternative schools

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