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Alternative Education and Early School Leaving

The reasons for early school leaving are multiple, including issues involving home, friends, mental and physical health.

Whatever the reasons, the most important feature of early school leaving is that it is the primary indicator for lifelong disadvantage. 

Relationships are pivotal in school retention and one bad relationship with a teacher has the potential to adversely affect all other school experiences and interactions. Shifting from conventional to alternative schooling requires the educator to recognise the prior power relationships that have undermined the student’s perceptions.

In order to anchor a young person to alternative education, innovative and practical strategies, supported by open and honest communication, must overcome the anger and distrust accrued from prior school experiences.

Ms Leader’s postgraduate studies in Alternative Education and Early School Leaving, plus recent program management of Communities Access Program sets Penny apart in this area. She has developed a number of flexible learning strategies for clients with diverse needs, and uses a therapeutic approach to address issues arising from early school leaving.