Real Schools
Committed Teachers. Caring Students. Connected Communities.
We are now in our third year of our partnership with Real Schools, continuing our commitment to strengthening a positive, respectful and connected school culture at Wangaratta West Primary School. This work is supported by our Real Schools Expert Facilitator, Daniel Vella, who has been working alongside our staff to build confidence and consistency in restorative practices.
A key focus of our journey has been the use of affective language. This involves explicitly expressing how behaviours impact others—for example, “I felt frustrated when…” or “That made it hard for others to learn because…”. By modelling and teaching this language, we are helping students to better understand the impact of their actions, develop empathy, and communicate more effectively.
Alongside this, we are embedding restorative conversations as a core approach to managing behaviour. Rather than focusing solely on consequences, restorative conversations guide students to reflect on what happened, who has been affected, and what needs to be done to make things right. This empowers students to take responsibility for their actions and actively be part of the solution.
An important part of this work is recognising that relationships can sometimes be fractured—but they can also be repaired. Through restorative practices, students are supported to rebuild trust, repair harm, and move forward positively. These are critical life skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
We are proud of the progress we have made over the past three years and remain committed to continuing this journey, ensuring our students are equipped with the skills to build and maintain strong, respectful relationships.