Our Vision & Values - Port School

A Note from the Chair

2024-2029 Strategic Plan and School Improvement Plan

As we embark on the journey of our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan and School Improvement Plan, it is imperative to recognise how far Port School has come and the remarkable role it plays in the lives of educationally ‘at risk’ youth who are often socially disadvantaged. We believe that every young person deserves access to opportunities that allow them to realise their potential, maintain sound mental and physical health, and have at least one adult who believes in them—someone who provides unwavering support and guidance. Unfortunately, many young people lack these fundamental elements in their lives. Port School is dedicated to bridging these gaps, restoring hope, and empowering our students and young adults to envision a brighter future as active contributors to society.

Since our relocation to Hamilton Hill three decades ago, Port School has continuously evolved. Our first formal strategic plan was crafted in partnership with staff and myself as the education consultant in 2010. Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment, reflecting on the myriad accomplishments we have achieved over the past seven years. From a relatively simple organisation with a singular focus, Port has transformed into a dynamic leader in the realm of Curriculum and Reengagement Education (CARE) Schools, offering diverse and sophisticated programs that are interwoven and of world-class standards.

The nature of our work is both challenging and unpredictable, often leading us to lose sight of our accomplishments amid daily demands. However, it is essential to pause, reflect, and celebrate our successes while identifying areas for growth. Each of us contributes unique skills and talents, pouring our hearts into the development of Port School. Yet, it is our collective efforts that create a powerful impact, enabling us to make a significant difference in the lives of at-risk youth and prepare them for a rapidly changing world.

As a Board, our focus is on the governance of Port School, directing our efforts toward establishing a robust framework that encompasses our structure, culture, goal-setting, and decision-making processes. Our core priorities include:

Sound and Ethical Practices: We are committed to maintaining transparent financial management, fostering community relationships, and effectively managing our resources and staff.

Quality Outcomes: We ensure that the programs and services offered by Port, under the Principal’s direction, maintain the highest quality and standards.

Compliance: We are dedicated to ensuring that Port School adheres to all necessary regulations, legislation, and standards consistently.

Risk Management: We strive to protect Port School from potential challenges while recognising and seizing opportunities as they arise.

The 2024-2029 Strategic Plan is the culmination of extensive collaboration and discussions among all Port School stakeholders over the past few years. This plan will guide us as we remain steadfast in our commitment to our ideals. We are excited about the potential pathways and developments that lie ahead for Port School in the next five years, and we look forward to continuing our mission to empower and uplift the lives of young people in our community.

Anne M Gee B Ed, ECE, Dip Teach, ECE/HPE
Port School Chair
Strategic Planning and Education Consultant

Our School Context

Port School is an incorporated body, overseen by a board of directors who guide and assist in the direction of the school, and who ultimately performance-manage the Principal. The Principal is the strategic and operational manager of the body, known as Port School Incorporated, which operates the following entities:

Port Middle School and Senior School
Port School Mobile Classroom
Port School Young Parent Centre (YPC)
Port School Early Learning Centre (ELC)
Port School Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
Port School Outreach Program (POP)

Port School

Port is an independent secondary special assistance school that aims to engage students who, for a variety of reasons and situations, have not been able to achieve success in mainstream school settings and are educationally at risk. The School supports students in many ways, fundamental among them is a high expectation of educational success, emphasising attendance, behaviour and participation. There is a key focus on High Impact Instruction in the core learning areas of English, Mathematics and HASS, while also concentrating on Visual Art, Technology and Enterprise, Cooking and Physical Education/Team Sport. Additionally, Port offers students small class sizes, the opportunity to engage in hands-on vocational-style learning, personalised and flexible learning groups as well as community projects. It offers individualised pastoral care and social support through a variety of networks and external service providers.

Port Middle School

Port’s year 8 and 9 program follows a primary school model of education and aims to address school refusal and disengagement while simultaneously improving educational outcomes.

Port Senior School

Port’s Senior School caters for Year 10 and above and operates in the more traditional secondary format, continuing students’ learning trajectories where they eventually graduate with access to employment or further studies in either a TAFE or University scenario.

Port Mobile Classroom

The Mobile Classroom program seeks to meaningfully engage some of the most disengaged students. The program takes place off-site in and around Fremantle and Perth and is targeted at young boys for whom a more conventional classroom just does not work.

Port Young Parent Centre

Port’s Young Parent program offers education programs for young mothers and their children (aged 3 months to 5 years) at the adjacent Port Early Learning Centre, an ACECQA-approved provider of early learning services.

Port Registered Training Organisation

Port’s RTO delivers Certificate I, II and III in General Education for Adults along with a small selection of nationally recognised vocational qualifications and skill sets. The School is committed to supporting students on their way towards a successful future and offers a range of transition pathways to help achieve this including VET in Schools (VETiS) and training opportunities with external education providers, workplace training and school-based traineeships.

Port Outreach Program

Port’s Outreach program supports students academically, socially and emotionally to re-engage in their education. The program takes place off campus and is tailor-made to meet the needs of the individual student. There is an emphasis on engaging students in areas of high interest, in literacy and numeracy and facilitating the student to access their specific educational pathway.

Our Vision

Port School is an independent school of choice for our local and wider community, for students who have not been able to achieve success in mainstream school settings. Our vision is to provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment in which students are empowered to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives.

In achieving our vision, Port School:

Provides distinctive, specifically designed, holistic education models.
Delivers and strengthens essential literacy/numeracy foundations and life skills.
Implements effective pastoral care and wrap-around health care programs.
Ensures small class sizes and real life, hands-on learning.
Commits to removing conflict between students and the school by developing meaningful and positive relationships.

Our Purpose

Port School creates and uncovers pathways to a meaningful life by providing experiences that enable student potential. The School supports attainment of its vision through an environment that:

Is safe, nurturing and inclusive.
Fosters confidence, personal best and respect for self and others.
Inspires students to live purposeful lives.

Our Values

Diversity

We welcome, nurture and promote each others’ differences.

Growth

We keep the educational development and wellbeing of people at the centre of what we do.

Empowerment

We enable each other to experience thoughts and feelings as valid and important.

Community

We provide a safe and secure environment that promotes contribution, ownership and mutual respect.

Our Practice - Teaching and Learning Framework

Quality teaching and learning is central to our purpose at Port School. As a provider to a very specific clientele base, our staff work together to provide students with the opportunity to succeed and grow in a learning environment that is engaging, encouraging, dynamic and purposeful.

Our approach to pedagogy is aligned with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) and is communicated through our Teaching and Learning Framework. This framework reflects the shared beliefs of our school community about high quality teaching, pastoral care and professional practice. Our framework guides the actions and behaviours that shape and direct staff practice at our school.

Engaging, innovated and differentiated programs and delivery.
Aligning curriculum and assessment.
Developing and maintaining positive relationships with high expectations for engagement and achievement.
Creating and maintaining safe, supportive and inclusive living and learning environments.
Ongoing reflection, analysis and adaptation.
Commitment to learning as a lifelong pursuit.
Establishing and maintaining successful partnerships.

Key Focus Areas

Underpinning the Vision, Purpose and Teaching and Learning Framework of the School is our day-to-day core business of schooling and re-engagement; our cultural practices, our academic and co-curricular initiatives, our character building programs and community partnerships. The School has four key focus areas that drive our planning, targets, actions and communications. Our School Improvement Plan will be addressed under these four areas.

Educational Offerings and Programs.
Quality Staff.
Community Connection.
Infrastructure and Governance.