The Arrowsmith Program

Head of Arrowsmith

WAYNE STAGG

Head of the Arrowsmith Program

I started at another school in Year 5. My previous school was hard for me because I had a lot of learning difficulties and couldn’t keep up in class, and I wasn’t confident as a person. I did have Learning Enhancement, but I still struggled to remember what I was taught, even one on one.

Moving to Oakleigh Grammar was hard for me. It was completely different to my previous school. The culture and what each school does each day was different. It was hard because I didn’t know anyone there, it was a co-ed school and the size of Oakleigh Grammar was very different.

I’m glad I stayed at Oakleigh Grammar in Year 8 even though I didn’t do Arrowsmith. Moving to Oakleigh Grammar to do Arrowsmith was a big decision, and we were taking a risk but I’m so glad I did it.

Doing Arrowsmith has made me so much better at understanding conversation, jokes and books. It's made me become more confident now that I’ve got the ability to do these things. I’ve developed much better social skills and when meeting new people I’m very talkative.

In my footy team, I understand game plans and what the coach is asking me to do. I have also become more of a leader in the footy team when last year I was shy and not confident. I am glad I moved because if I didn’t I would still be having Learning Enhancement, but it wouldn’t be helping and it wouldn’t be changing my mind.

As a V.E.T. subject, you do work experience for a sporting club. I asked the Hawthorn Amateurs if I could help out. The Hawthorn Amateurs Football Club are older men playing football. The coach on Wednesday asks me to do the warm-up. So I made my own warm-up and explained it to everyone in front of 50 older men. I could never have been confident to do that if I didn’t do Arrowsmith.

Ben Murphy - Year 10