Dorchester School

Education Directory introduces Dorchester School in Campbelltown, for all your education and learning needs.

Dorchester Education and Training Unit is situated within the Campbelltown School Education Area. The school provides a broad range of educational programs for young offenders. Dorchester has a maximum capacity of 60 male juvenile offenders aged between 10 and 16 years. The incarceration period for individuals within the school population ranges from days to years. School and centre staff work collaboratively to provide programs which maximise opportunities for successful community reintegration. Four distinct educational programs operate within Dorchester ETU. The Robinson unit provides a joint school centre therapy based program for high needs students. The Slattery unit caters to young offenders between the ages of 10 and 14 and has middle schooling structure with the specific focus as social skilling. The achievement of credentialed outcomes is the aim of each students education plan within the Whitten program. Vocational education, School Certificate (SC) and the development of effective pathways to further education and training are focus areas. Macarthur is the assessment unit and caters for up to 1 boys in the initial stages of their stay. Dorchester school strives to provide each student with a quality and comprehensive educational program which ensures appropriate educational outcomes and which increases the students potential for future success. The school provides a broad range of academic social and vocational programs within a supportive, caring and containing environment . Students are able to access programs following a joint DET and DJJ risk management process which encompasses both the assessment of student behaviour and, the risk management of all teaching and learning activities. School staff work in closely with juvenile justice staff in the provision of a number of programs including drug and alcohol, therapeutic and health programs. Each students individualised education and training plan is an integral part of their over arching case management plan. Major evaluations have indicated the need for a strengthened focus on literacy and numeracy. Evaluations have also indicated a need for enhanced strategies to assist students in transitioning from custody to community based living. The school and its community value public education and the ways in which it is responsive to the individual needs of learners at Dorchester. Staff deliver the highest quality of education and ensure the school is characterised by professionalism, integrity and ethical decision making.