Student dissatisfaction, low achievement, poor transition outcomes for some groups, including early leavers, and persistent inequalities place considerable barriers in the way of schools' efforts to improve participation in education. This paper argues that there is a need to look beyond current structures of provision for models of schooling better able to deal with these issues. The existing research evidence on Australian initiatives to introduce senior school or multi-campus models of provision is reviewed and three case studies of the model presented in order to examine the potential of this model. The paper argues that this approach to schooling facilitates the provision of a broad and relevant curriculum (including VET), provides a more appropriate schooling environment for post-compulsory aged students and allows teachers (at both the junior and senior sites) to focus on the needs of their particular students.
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