Ashwood School is a coeducational specialist school for 137 primary and secondary aged students and aspires to be a centre of excellence and a school of first choice in the field of special education.  Our purpose is to develop independent learners who achieve their maximum learning outcomes through the delivery of a focused and engaging curriculum that enables students to achieve their potential.  Students at Ashwood are assessed as having a diagnosis of a mild intellectual disability and come from a wide geographical area including the municipalities of Monash, Boroondara, Manningham, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Glen Eira and Bayside.  The school provides a supportive yet challenging environment that equips students with mild intellectual disabilities with the skills and knowledge to become valued members of the community. Students are grouped into three departments: Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary (STEP).  Individual Education Plans engage students to achieve their personal best concentrating on building academic, social, communication, independence and employability skills to ensure a successful post school life.
The school has a strong focus on student voice and agency.  Students are encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas in class, department meetings, school assemblies, community events and educational forums. Our student leadership program begins in the Primary Department as students voice their choices of educational activities, assist as classroom monitors and as Department Captains.  In the Secondary Department students are leaders for the Duke of Edinburgh program, Visual Arts House leaders, and leaders for Bike Education and Technology programs.  In the Student Transition Education Program (STEP) Department, students take on leadership roles in the areas of Performing Arts, Sports, the Student Representative Council and the Student Environment Committee.  Student representatives from each class across the school form the committees and meet regularly. Our four School Captains have a pivotal role in leading school assemblies and encouraging student voice and participation in school led activities. Student leaders work with staff in the planning and implementation of events. Ashwood students have made suggestions and led change in a variety of curriculum areas and programs including the GO program, RIPOR Days, Student Wellbeing Week and celebrated cultural and community days. Ashwood student leaders support each other to have a valued voice in their school life.
All students at Ashwood School work hard to follow the school values: Respect, Integrity, Passion, Optimism and Responsibility - RIPOR and the RIPOR expectations: Be a Learner, Be Safe and Be Responsible.  The teaching and learning programs for every student have a focus of learning embedding the school values into their day to day lives.  Our students show `Respect¿ when they care for and are considerate to others, their environment and themselves.  They show `Integrity¿ when they are honest, trustworthy and fair.  They show `Passion and Optimism¿ when they are confident, persistent, resilient and enthusiastic.  They show `Responsibility¿ when they take charge of their actions and words and actively contribute to the school and wider community.  Ashwood students benefit from the range and diversity of quality educational programs and the school maintains class sizes that reflect the learning needs of students.

Ashwood School promotes and presents a positive community image encouraging parent and community involvement and all new parents are matched with a parent buddy.  The school benefits from a large staff who are highly experienced and qualified in Special Education.  The teaching staff are supported by experienced teacher assistants.  The school has 2 Principal Class, 32 Teachers and 22 Education Support Staff inclusive of part time staff.  The performance and development goals of every staff member are aligned with the school¿s priorities, and we continue to prioritise investment in staff professional learning to enhance development in improving teacher capabilities and support staff to further their studies in the field of Special Education.