Berengarra School

Berengarra School

Berengarra School
Location
Box Hill North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Information
Opened	7 January 1977
Gender	Co-educational
Website	www.berengarra.vic.edu.au

Berengarra School is a school in the suburb of Box Hill North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Berengarra School is a specialist independent secondary school for students in Years 7–12. The school is non-denominational and co-educational for students with social and emotional complexities.

Aims

• Our students will address their social and emotional challenges and achieve success in a nurturing and supportive learning community.
• Our programs will utilise an innovative skills-based curriculum and implement emotional regulation techniques to engage students effectively in their learning.
• Our staff will provide a nurturing learning community and build strong relationships with our students.
• Our community will provide opportunities for understanding, flexibility, belonging and diversity.

School Values              

At our school, we value:

• Hope – moving forward with confidence and a ‘chance for change’ to create a positive future.
• Belonging – fostering a deep sense of school community where everyone is accepted and celebrated for who they are in a respectful, inclusive and compassionate environment.
• Nurturing – empowering growth and learning in a safe and supportive community.
• Success – being guided to accept responsibility and face new challenges to achieve our goals.

Curriculum

The Box Hill Campus caters for students in Years 7-10. The campus curriculum is informed by the Victorian Curriculum. The primary goal of the curriculum is to provide a personalised learning opportunity which is focused on the individual needs of students and provides educational opportunities in a nurturing community. Students are encouraged to develop confidence in learning, whilst reconnecting and re-engaging with education.

The Chadstone Campus caters for senior secondary students Years 10-12, offering the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) and VCE Vocational Major certificate (VM). An important element of both the VPC and VM certificates is to develop Industry Specific Skills (ISS), and students are required to complete a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course. A VET certificate is evidence of the student’s competence in a chosen vocation.

At Berengarra School, students develop Industry Specific Skills and complete VET certificates onsite. The school provides the opportunity, within our school program, to complete VET certificates in Community Services and in Retail. Students are also able to gain valuable work experience in our community market program and/or at our school run café, ‘CafEducation’. Our VET Teachers and Café Manager offer a safe and supportive environment for our students to learn and achieve success.

History of Berengarra School

Berengarra School was established in response to the growing recognition that some students with social, emotional, and learning complexities required a different educational approach than what mainstream schools could offer. The initiative began in 1973 when Bruce Wicking convened a group of like-minded individuals to explore the creation of a new school. This followed a successful pilot program at Glamorgan that demonstrated the benefits of a tailored learning environment for students who were underachieving in traditional settings.

In 1974, The Currajong School was founded in East Malvern. It soon became evident that there were limited secondary education options for students with moderate to profound learning difficulties and associated social and emotional needs. To address this, a secondary campus was opened in Kew, initially called The Currajong Secondary School. In 1975, it was renamed Berengarra School, symbolising a new, independent identity under the leadership of Rev. Kenneth Jago, the founding Chair of the new school council.

Lorraine Ralph served as the inaugural Principal, succeeded by Brian Lennon in 1978. During Lennon's tenure, the school moved to Box Hill and refined its focus and methodologies, establishing structured processes to support student engagement and wellbeing.

In 1985, Andrew "Rock" Watson became Principal, working alongside Deputy Judy Anderson. Their leadership further developed the school’s behavioural support systems, contributing to a period of increased stability and student growth.

The school relocated to Glen Waverley in 1988, joining the Child & Family Care Network (CFCN) while maintaining operational independence. This partnership provided access to a broader range of family support services. Leigh Candy became Principal in 1991, with Monica Baker as Deputy. During this period, the curriculum was adapted to better suit students needs. In 1993, Berengarra and CFCN entered into a new lease arrangement, formalising their operational separation.

Monica Baker became Principal in 1994, later succeeded by Ian Watson in 2000. Ian introduced a more therapeutic approach to behaviour support, drawing on cognitive behavioural and narrative practices. Mark Heuston then took over as Principal in 2004.

In 2009, Peter Heffernan became Principal. Shortly thereafter, a new site in Box Hill North was secured just weeks before the school’s lease expired. The school community worked together to prepare the new campus in time for the 2010 school year.

In 2011, Berengarra opened a second campus in Chadstone to support students aged 15 to 18 preparing for TAFE and requiring additional educational and emotional support. By 2012, the program included Foundation VCAL, and in 2014, a student-run café in Ashwood provided hands-on experience as part of the Work Education curriculum. The program expanded further to include Intermediate VCAL in 2015.

The purchase of the Box Hill campus in 2015 marked a milestone in the school’s history, securing a permanent home.

Today

Berengarra School provides an alternative secondary education for students with social and emotional complexities who have experienced disruption in mainstream school settings. The school’s approach is trauma-informed and designed to remove common barriers to learning, such as rigid schedules and uniform requirements. It offers a later start time, shorter school days, and no homework, aiming to reduce anxiety and support re-engagement with education.

The teaching model emphasises strong, supportive relationships and adapts the curriculum to individual learning needs. Staff are trained to deliver content in ways that promote wellbeing, confidence, and consistent participation. Berengarra School continues to focus on therapeutic, student-centred education within a structured environment, maintaining high expectations while fostering a sense of safety and belonging.

References

• The Berengarra School Website