Independent Learning Centre leads SA in student support

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A new learning support program will be introduced into South Australian schools next year, but Murray Bridge High School's Independent Learning Centre already has a head start.

The state government will spend $48.3 million over three years rolling out the Tailored Learning program, following a year of successful trials at 12 public high schools throughout SA.

The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) was selected to be part of the trial in November 2023.

The new investment will support secondary students from year 8 up to the age of 21 who have disengaged from school due to significant personal barriers, including mental health concerns, unstable accommodation, family difficulties, addiction, pregnancy and parenting.

Murray Bridge High School assistant principal Jared Daly said many schools had been looking for more flexibility and support for students.

"It's made a big difference for us and we've kind of gone all in on it," he said.

The funding meant the ILC was able to hire additional staff, both at the centre and the high school, and help more young people.

"We've been able to take more numbers of students on ... currently we have 150-160 students and have had 192 students through the centre this year," he said.

"Without the funds we would sit closer to the 150-140, so we get to support an additional 50-60 kids over the course of the year."

The program trial also benefitted students in the younger years at Murray Bridge High School.

"Previously for students in the middle years, their only option was mainstream schooling ... the funding also allowed us to offer different programs," he said.

The two different programs now offered, Reach Out and ILP, support years 8 and 9 on site at Murray Bridge High School.

"We've had around 70 kids go through ... they've got their own classrooms ... and a bit more flexibility with their timetables," Mr Daly said.

This year the Independent Learning Centre will help another 25-30 students complete their SACE.

"If we didn't have this centre, a lot of those students would have just dropped out."

Tailored Learning builds on an earlier support program for students called Flexible Learning Options (FLO), which had operated in South Australia since 2007.

Currently, there are 4360 students that access the FLO program at 85 schools.

The new Tailored Learning approach will be available at all schools with secondary enrolments, ensuring consistency across the public education system.

"We just keep doing what we did this year next year ... I suppose we just got a 12-month head start," Mr Daly said.

Next year the program will be offered to other schools around the state, and each one can run the program slightly different based on student needs.

Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said the roll-out was an important step forward in supporting vulnerable students to ensure they continued to learn.

"We have long recognised that education is not one-size-fits-all and this program is about reconnecting young people with their learning in a way that works best for them," he said. 

"The best place to provide these supports is in a highly inclusive school setting, where they can remain connected with their classmates and their teachers."