Learning outcomes for students of school leaving age in special schools: a preliminary study of stakeholders' perceptions

As part of a larger study, a process was developed for ascertaining and measuring desirable learning outcomes for students of school leaving age attending special schools. This paper reports upon the first part of the process, which involved a wide range of stakeholder representatives (including teachers, teachers' aides, principals, parents, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) teachers, community representatives and the students) being brought to the point of consensus as to what the outcomes should be. The process was applied in three special schools and the overall findings are discussed. While the three stakeholder groups identified over 30 outcomes as desirable for their students, the seven most important learning outcomes were Communication, Community Living, Financial Management, Independent Living, Interpersonal Skills, Literacy and Personal Development. The stakeholder representatives collectively identified 93 representative indicators (or teaching objectives) from these seven outcomes.