Hampden Specialist School

This plaque is located at the Hampden Specialist School entrance, 36 Grayland St.

Hampden Specialist School was first established at Terang in 1987 under the name of Terang Special Development School. The school made the move to Cobden in 1994 and this saw the first classroom set up on the grounds of Cobden Technical School. This is when the vision for the Baseroom program became a reality. In 1999, the school became known as the Hampden Specialist School.

Our school’s vision is to prepare young people to become active, respected, engaged and responsible citizens of the local and global community. It aims to prepare students to contend with a very dynamic 21st century in which creativity, cooperative work, connectedness to the world and adaptability are key features. The school aspires to provide a current approach to teaching and learning in its purposeful learning environment that is informed by ongoing research.

The school’s core values are Respect, Teamwork and Persistence. The school also values achievement, excellence, academia, respect and responsibility, curiosity, perseverance, integrity, inclusiveness, respect for diversity, honesty and equity. Sitting at the centre of its work, the school believes in high expectations in all students and a commitment to acknowledging effort in learning and achievement.

Hampden Specialist School provides Special Education for primary and secondary school-age students with mild to severe intellectual disability. It is a dual campus school featuring distinct learning stages with students in the Early Stages of learning situated at the Terang campus and Middle to Later Years students at Cobden. The school administration is also located at its Cobden campus.

The catchment area encompasses Derrinallum and Mortlake in the north, Garvoc and Nullawarre to the west, Timboon and Port Campbell to the south and South Purrumbete to the east and all areas in between. Neighbouring specialist schools are located at Warrnambool, Colac and Hamilton.

The school’s most distinguishing feature is its Baseroom-style of education delivery. In keeping with this type of operation, each campus is located alongside same-age mainstream schools. The P-4 campus, is now located on the Terang College P-12 campus and the Middle Years (5–8) and Later Years (9 –12) campus, is located on the grounds of Cobden Technical School. The towns of Cobden and Terang, in which these campuses are situated, are 24 kilometres apart.

The school motto ‘The Best of Both Worlds in Special Education’ visibly underpins the advantages of this practice and the school values of Respect, Teamwork and Persistence serve as an enduring benchmark for all aspects of the teaching and learning that takes place at the school.