About our school

Dorchester School (also known as Education and Training Unit ETU) provides outstanding

personalised academic, social, and vocational programs for its students to re-enter society

and function as respectful, responsible, and safe citizens.

School aims

The school is committed to:

• creating an environment that is supportive, positive, happy, safe, and non-threatening

• providing skills-based programs to enhance students' academic, personal, social, and

vocational skills and facilitate their community reintegration

• identifying and acknowledging effort towards learning and achievement

• working with our school community to provide a quality service to students

Our classrooms are set up to meet each student’s needs. We make sure students feel safe, respected and ready to learn in a way that suits them. Our staff are caring and are skilled to help students feel confident, connected and proud of who they are.

School context

Dorchester School is an SSP2 school located within the Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre in

Campbelltown with a significant Aboriginal enrolment. The school caters to up to 55

incarcerated students (30 female and 25 male) between the ages of 10 and 21. Our

students are subject to either court-imposed remand or control orders due to serious

criminal offences, and as a result, the length of their enrolment will vary. Students originate

from a geographical area covering all of NSW. Most have a history of learning failure,

fractured or chronic non-school attendance, multiple school suspensions, and long periods

away from formal education. Students present with behaviour difficulties, emotional

disturbance, and other complex mental health issues.