Our School

Watch this short video for some insight into the work that we do.

A Caring and Supportive Community

Warrah Specialist School, based at Dural, is a caring and supportive community that provides quality and individualised education for students with moderate to severe intellectual disability and complex learning needs as their primary disability. 

Our school offers Education with a Difference for Kindergarten to Year 12 students on a bushland campus of 12 hectares. The campus also services and cares for adults with disabilities – a living example of how a community supports the life and purpose of each individual from childhood through to adulthood and into the senior years.

Innovative and Inclusive

Founded in 1969, Warrah Specialist School offers an innovative curriculum and inclusive approach, ensuring all students find their place in the community and reach their full potential. Over recent years Warrah has responded to the changing needs of students ensuring meaning and learning are relevant to the modern world.

Academic Learning through Traditional Crafts and Therapies

We work with individual learning plans so students are grouped according to activity and capacity rather than in traditional classes – this ensures their learning is optimised and tailored to each one. Academic learning is fostered through a range of traditional arts and crafts, including woodwork, weaving, music and drama; and other programs including cooking, gardening and farming. Key learning areas, including literacy, numeracy, science and physical development are integrated as an outcome of this learning approach, so the student finds the connection between learning and doing through experience.

Our school is supported by a team of trained teachers, classroom assistants, therapists and crafts people. Warrah also offers Music Therapy, Therapeutic Eurythmy as well as spaces for NDIS funded therapists to work with students on site during a school day.

Facilities

Our peaceful bushland environment has a heated swimming pool, a fully equipped student kitchen, break out learning spaces, large hall with stage for performances, a sensory garden, active playground and a working biodynamic farm. The farm has animals and grows fresh market produce, sold in our Farm Shop.

We welcome all regardless of the nature of their intellectual disability, for we believe each of our students has a yearning and the capacity for a rich and meaningful life. Our task as educators is to transform these strengths and qualities into capacities that will serve them in the world beyond school.