Indie School Ringwood: Alternative education provider’s bid to expand

An independent school for ‘disengaged youth’ which is looking to expand in Ringwood is the latest to have a student test positive to Covid-19.

An alternative school in for disengaged youth in Melbourne’s outer east which has no uniforms or homework is the latest to be impacted by Covid-19.

Indie School’s Ringwood campus on Maroondah Hwy has confirmed a student tested positive to the virus earlier this week, and closed as a precaution on Wednesday.

It is unclear whether the school re-opened on Thursday for scheduled classes.

Ringwood head of school Rebecca Irvine said she believed the student was not on site during their infection period, but the school was following all relevant public health orders and acting with caution.

Ms Irvine said classes were expected to resume as normal on Monday and students identified as close contacts would need to provide a negative test result to return.

The confirmed case comes as the school looks to expand in 2022, having recently taken over the lease of 168 Maroondah Highway, next to Ringwood Lake Park.

The school has lodged an application with Maroondah Council to operate at the site from next year, which is commercially zoned and the former home of a Christmas decorations shop.

It opened across the road at 287 Maroondah Highway earlier this year and converted a floor of office space into small classrooms.

The independent school has four other campuses around Victoria and is open to students aged 15 to 18 years who have been unable to complete their studies in mainstream schools.

It follows a curriculum in line with VCE and VCAL requirements, delivered in a different setting with tailored learning plans and a focus on “adult education philosophies”.

The school’s website states its alternative learning methods “help students develop their social and emotional capabilities, life skills and positive study habits, leading to regained confidence.”

Indie School Ringwood’s head of school Rebecca Irvine said it had experienced a high demand for its services since opening and had hosted up to 50 students this year.

She said the new building would have room for up to 70 students to study its equivalent of Year 10 or VCAL.

“We have had a lot of demand and need some additional room … and we were attracted to the space due to the internal layout,” Ms Irvine said.

“This will allow us to respond to the demand and gives us space to put on additional classes.”

The school caps class sizes at 15 students and does not make them do homework or wear a school uniform.

It also offers breakfast, lunch and snacks and provides all of the students’ learning materials.

“We want to reduce the barriers students might face … they can walk in the door, bring nothing with them and be ready to learn,” Ms Irvine said.

The school’s planning application is listed as “under assessment” on the council’s website.

The council did not respond to Leader’s queries.