Designated purpose schools
Designated purpose schools specialise in a specific subject or activity, or support a particular cohort, for example, high achieving students or students with diverse learning needs.
Designated purpose schools vary in registration type. Some are registered as specific purpose, others as specialist, and some as primary or secondary schools. Their curriculum requirements may also vary, allowing them to focus on specialised subjects or activities. For information on the registration type of designated purpose schools, search for the specific school using the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority’s (VRQA) State Register(opens in a new window).
Some designated purpose schools have multiple campuses in different locations. In these cases, all campuses must be registered with the VRQA.
Some designated purpose schools may also deliver programs. If designated purpose schools are considering delivering a program in a different location to the main campus, they should contact their Executive Director Area to determine whether that location should be registered with the VRQA as an additional campus.
The tables below provide an overview of each category of designated purpose school, including current schools within each category.
For information on the location of designated purpose schools, search for the specific school using the search function on the Find my School(opens in a new window) website.
Community schools
Community Schools are government schools. They offer a positive educational choice in a smaller setting, alongside neighbourhood schools. They have high expectations for both learning and relationships. They build strong partnerships with students, families and communities.
- Bindjiroo Yaluk Community School
- Croydon Community School
- Kensington Community High School
- Oakwood School
- Sherbrooke Community College
- Sydney Road Community School
Vocational schools
Vocational schools provide students with the opportunity to undertake applied learning for Years 10 to 12 to prepare them for the world of work (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, and general employment) or further TAFE training.
- Peter Lalor Secondary College
Flexible Learning Options (FLOs) – Schools
FLO schools support students at risk or already disengaged from education. FLO schools help to build social and emotional capability, wellbeing and engagement in education. FLO schools are a short-term option before students transition back to their regular school.
- Yarra Me School
Sovereign Hill School offers a unique 2 day, fully immersive, costumed school experience tailored to Year 5 and 6 students.
- Sovereign Hill School
English language schools provide intensive English language programs to primary and secondary students from language backgrounds other than English who have recently arrived in Victoria. Students learn English and new concepts as they participate in the different learning areas. English language schools have a strong focus on supporting students to reach their potential in English language development and help them adapt as quickly as possible to the Australian education system and society more broadly.
- Blackburn English Language School
- Collingwood English Language School
- Geelong English Language School
- Noble Park English Language School
- Western English Language School
Hospital schools
Hospital schools provide education services to students who are unable to attend their base school due to specific heath condition/s. This may include inpatient, outpatient (community) or sessional education programs. All hospital schools are aligned and co-located with a health service and the student remains enrolled at their base school.
- Yalingbu Yirramboi – The Royal Children's Hospital School
- Monash Children's Hospital School
- The Austin School
- Travancore School
Mental health
Avenues Education works in partnership with Infant Child and Youth Mental Health Services (ICYMHS). ICYMHS refer students to Avenues Education to provide targeted educational services for individual and groups of students experiencing social, emotional, and/or mental health difficulties in accessing education.
- Avenues Education
These schools provide students who are demonstrating excellence in different key learning areas and subjects, such as English, maths, sciences, visual and performing arts and physical education, with opportunities to further excel. For more information on high ability settings, refer to: Supporting High-Ability Students: Schools and settings targeted to high-ability students.
- Centre for Higher Education Studies
- John Monash Science School
- Melbourne High School
- Nossal High School
- Suzanne Cory High School
- The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School
- Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School
Outdoor education schools specialise in providing outdoor learning to students in middle primary to VCE, through residential and/or journey-based experiences in nature, physical skills, and subject-specific knowledge. Outdoor schools are available to all students in Victoria.
- Outdoor School
- Rubicon Outdoor School
- School for Student Leadership
- Somers School Camp
Specialist schools provide specialised education programs for students with disability and high needs. There are different types of specialist schools that cater to students with particular disability and high needs (as outlined below). Each specialist school has specific eligibility criteria that can be found on the school website.
Specialist schools marked with * also deliver an Early Education Program that provides group-based learning for preschool age children who have a disability or developmental delay. More information: Early Education Programs.
Specialist (autism)
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for autistic students with high needs.
- Bulleen Heights School
- Eastern Ranges School
- Endeavour Hills Specialist School (also intellectual disability)
- Jacana School for Autism
- Jennings Street School
- Niddrie Autistic School
- Northern School for Autism
- Southern Autistic School*
- Western Autistic School
Specialist (deaf school)
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Aurora School*
- Furlong Park School for Deaf Children*
- Victorian College for the Deaf
Specialist (intellectual disability)
Mild
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special schools’.
- Ascot Vale Heights School
- Ashwood School
- Baringa School
- Concord School
- Croxton School
- Emerson School
- Hampton East School
- Heatherwood School
- Hume Valley School
- Jackson School
- Kalianna School
- Montague School
- Naranga Special School
- Nelson Park School
- Rosamond School
- Vermont South Special School
Mild to profound
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘dual/multi-mode’ specialist schools.
- Ballarat Specialist School
- Banmira Specialist School*
- Bass Coast Specialist School
- Belvoir School
- Cobram and District Specialist School
- Dharra School
- East Gippsland Specialist School
- Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School
- Endeavour Hills Specialist School (and autism)
- Hamilton Parklands School
- Hampden P–12 School
- Horsham Special School
- Lake Colac School*
- Marnebek School
- Marra School
- Melton Specialist School
- Merri River School
- Mildura Specialist School
- Nganboo Borron School
- Ngurraga School
- Officer Specialist School
- Peninsula College
- Port Phillip Specialist School*
- Portland Bay School
- Sale and District Specialist School
- Skene Street School Stawell
- South Gippsland Specialist School
- Sunbury And Macedon Ranges Specialist School
- Swan Hill Specialist School
- Wangaratta District Specialist School
- Warracknabeal Special Developmental School
- Warragul and District Specialist School
- Warringa Park School
- Wayi School
Moderate to profound
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a moderate to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special developmental schools’.
- Barwon Valley School
- Bayside Special Developmental School*
- Bendigo Special Developmental School
- Broadmeadows Special Developmental School
- Burwood East Special Developmental School*
- Coburg Special Developmental School
- Croydon Special Developmental School*
- Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School*
- Diamond Valley Special Developmental School*
- Frankston Special Developmental School*
- Hamlyn Views School
- Latrobe Special Developmental School
- Merriang School
- Monash Special Developmental School*
- Mornington Special Developmental School*
- Springvale Park Special Developmental School*
- Sunshine Special Developmental School
- Waratah Special Developmental School
- Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School*
- Yarrabah School*
- Yarraville Special Developmental School
Specialist (physical disability)
A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with physical disability and/or a significant health impairment and requiring regular paramedical support.
- Belmore School
- Glenallen School
- Glenroy Specialist School
- Nepean School
The Victorian School of Languages specialises in language education for students who do not have access to the language they wish to study at their regular school. The school plays an essential role in fostering multilingualism and cultural understanding in the state of Victoria.
The Victorian School of Languages provides language education to students from Prep to Year 12, offering over 40 languages through a combination of face-to-face and online learning options.
Access is open to all students wishing to study a language not offered at their regular school, subject to the availability of places:
- in each class
- at particular centres.
The Victorian School of Languages also delivers the Virtual New Arrivals Program, which provides a quality English language program for newly arrived EAL students who are unable to access an English language school or centre due to their location in rural or regional areas. More information: EAL – Provision for Newly Arrived Students: Guidance.
- Victorian School of Languages
Virtual School Victoria offers virtual and blended learning for students from Foundation to Year 12. The school caters to a wide range of students, including those who are unable to attend their designated neighbourhood schools (DNS) due to geographical isolation, health issues, or other personal circumstances. The school also supports students seeking to complement their schooling with subjects not offered at their DNS.
Virtual School Victoria provides a virtual learning environment where students have access to a comprehensive curriculum, taught by experienced teachers. The school offers a range of learning opportunities for students, including online classes, in-person seminars, excursions and camps. This approach enables students to balance their education with their personal needs, helping them achieve their academic goals in a supportive setting.
Virtual School Victoria also delivers the Victorian High-Ability program, which enables high-ability students in Years 5-8, at all Victorian state schools, to be challenged and extended in a supportive environment. More information: Victorian High-Ability Program – Virtual School Victoria(opens in a new window).- Virtual School Victoria
Youth justice schools are for students who are in custody or a secure care setting. Students are supported to transition to and from youth justice schools to their designated neighbourhood school or alternative education settings to stay engaged with education and training.
- Parkville College
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