The Y School
Inspiring Career Focused Learning
We believe all young people are capable of success
The Y has a long history of supporting young people. Here in Australia the Y has been providing high-quality education for young people who are looking for alternative learning to mainstream schooling.
The Y WA recognises the importance of providing the right learning environment to improve the social, educational and employment outcomes for young people, in particular those who have experienced challenges effectively engaging in education or training.
School Brochure
The Mirrabooka Campus
The first Y School in Western Australia is conveniently located in Mirrabooka, 12km north of Perth’s CBD.
The Y School was officially opened on February 23, 2022. The school is initially taking Year 10-11 students and then including Year 12 students in 2023, our small, independent school will accommodate up to 100 high school aged students who have previously experienced challenges engaging in education. Our highly experienced teachers and youth workers provide educational programs to promote continuous engagement and meet individual student learning needs and interests, whilst placing an equal emphasis on social and psychological development, to improve the educational and employment outcomes for our students.
We are a Curriculum and Re-engagement (CARE) school and are affiliated with the Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA). The Y School provides a holistic education, recognising the uniqueness of every young person and working with each of our students to create a personal and sustainable pathway.
Our Vision
Our vision is that all children and young people are empowered to feel safe and be safe at the Y, in their families and in their communities.
Our Mission
We provide a safe and supportive alternative learning environment where young people can actively engage in education, acquire skills, and ultimately flourish in body, mind and spirit.
Why the Y School?
Rich legacy of impact
As part of the world’s longest-standing and most renowned youth organisation, The Y WA brings a legacy of excellence and support to our community. The Y School believes in providing the best opportunities for their students, helping them overcome any barriers to education that they may have previously experienced. We offer learning pathways that take the needs of our students into consideration every time, building on our firm foundation of community support, through empowering young people.
Inclusive & nurturing culture
Experience a community where diversity is celebrated, and every individual is valued. Our dedicated staff are committed to the academic and personal growth of each student, fostering a passion for learning. We choose to embody the statement “We all belong at The Y”, ensuring all students and staff are respected for their cultural backgrounds, heritage, gender, sexuality and any other differences. These differences strengthen our community and help us to become further educated as global citizens.
Personalised plans
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are developed for each student, tailored to their unique needs, specific educational goals, and skill development. All students are consulted in the formation of this plan, helping them take responsibility for their learning and create strategies that create lifelong resiliency. Individual Pathway Plans are also developed with our Senior cohort (Years 10, 11 & 12) helping them to create a meaningful overview and future focussed pathway. Case Managers are able to use this information to find the most meaningful ways to support students on their pathways to further education or employment.
Diverse curriculum
The Y School is dedicated to providing a well-rounded curriculum for all students, assisting them with developing deeper knowledge of literacy and numeracy skills, as well as covering curriculum content and skills for problem-solving across subject areas. Students in Years 7, 8 & 9 will have access to Direct Instruction for skill acquisition and Skill Applications sessions that promote key thinking skills, teamwork and opportunities to try careers before opting into pathways in Year 10. Multiple opportunities for success and a wide variety of pathways for Year 10, 11 &12 students are available. These options include a WACE pathway, Endorsed Programs, School-Based Traineeships, TAFE courses, self-led passion projects and more.
Community Connection
We prioritise student connection and foster a sense of belonging through all the activities we organise. Our students come into the school knowing that we operate from a non-judgemental space, offering unwavering positive regard – every day is a new day and we are always ready to work together, whatever the circumstances. We seek to build a community that embraces the desire to learn, through trauma-informed practices that overarch high-quality teaching moments. We encourage our students to connect with their Case Managers, so that we can design and implement individualised plans that create confidence and suit the character of each individual within our community. Through opportunities such as the Kokoda Leadership Program, group excursions, Harmony Day, special school events like the ball and involvement in Pride events, we want The Y School to be a place where we all belong.
Career Pathways
Through the collaboration between teaching staff and the team of youth workers, all students develop an Individual Pathway Plan, helping their Case Manager to identify all the opportunities for students to explore their future prospects and career pathways. Practical experience through Career & Enterprise, Work Skills, school-based traineeships (via applications to TAFE and course providers) and work-based learning opportunities, are part of our processes, helping students find their feet and focus on their work readiness skills..
Holistic support
All students are allocated a Youth Worker as a Case Manager when they begin at The Y School. This Case manager will assist in the development of the wraparound care model that works for that student, based around their own [personal needs. We support students and their families in the exploration and implementation of support plans regarding all aspects of their wellbeing – physical, mental and relational. With a School Counsellor and an Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Education Officer (AIEO) onsite and the support of the Psychology Team at AISWA, we seek professional engagement and advice to assist us to provide the best support possible for our students. Appointments, referrals and connection to outside agencies are all used to bring together the most helpful team for each student, meeting their personal circumstances at point of need.
For all our actions, we connect with the competencies of Connection, Character, Competence, Confidence and Caring, seeking to help our students truly flourish in their futures.
Small classrooms
With a higher staff to student ratio, we ensure personalised attention and a supportive learning environment for all students at our school. Our teachers develop Individual Education plans for all students on arrival, assessing their capacity and need, looking for strategies to support and facilitate easier access to learning opportunities. These plans are continually reviewed and updated as we discover more information and create deeper working relationships with students and their families. Within these plans, we hope to assist students to find the way in which they work most effectively and provide them with skills that they can apply into the future, in further education or their career pathways.
Outreach
For some of our students, an opportunity to study in different contexts is an available option. On enrolment, timetables are discussed with all key stakeholders and
Aboriginal school-based traineeship
Other points to consider mentioning:
Learning
The Y school provides an Individual Learning Plan (IEP) for each student. This recognises the different skill levels of each student in each area of study. Learning is then scaffolded to provide each learner with an opportunity to progress. We meet each student where they are and assist them to develop new pathways. We promote a growth mindset and acknowledge progress in a positive and nurturing way.
Career Pathways
Every student who completes their schooling with us has the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. We offer Certificates I, II and III in General Education for Adults (CGEA), as well as Vocational training opportunities through community partnerships, which lead to qualifications and employment in a variety of industries.
All our Year 10 students learn English, Mathematics, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, Art, Science and Technology (STEM). Whilst our Year 11 and 12 students also study Health, PE, Protective Behaviours, Humanities, in addition to CGEA in literacy and numeracy, and additional electives. Our students participate in OLNA testing.
We focus our teaching on building literacy and numeracy skills, using evidence-based programs.
We also teach essential life skills, including interview techniques, punctuality, and appropriate workplace behaviour.
Additional Support
Alongside academic success, social and emotional development is a high priority at our school. To inspire learning and consistent engagement:
- Our teachers are trained in supporting trauma-affected young people
- We have youth workers in each classroom and case management support
- Our class sizes are no more than 20 students
- Our psychologist provides one on one support and counselling
- Wellbeing classes focus on managing mental health
How to Enrol
Students may be referred from their previous high school, Participation or Transition teams, from medical and mental health professionals, or self-refer via the enrolment form on our website, or contact us on (08) 6234 1173, or enrol@yschools.wa.edu.au. Each application is reviewed by our School Principal and Youth Manager.
The Mirrabooka Campus is located at Unit 8, 1 Chesterfield Road, Mirrabooka.
Feedback and Complaints
The Y School welcomes feedback from members of the public as well as from our school community. Please email admin@yschools.wa.edu.au with any comments or concerns and we will respond within five days.
The Y School is proud to be an Act Belong Commit partner.