# 92 The Teen They Called ‘The Problem’ — And What Changed in a Different School Setting

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/adhd-mums-6363089/92-the-teen-they-called-the-problem-and-what-changed-in-a-different-school-setting
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/adhd-mums-6363089/92-the-teen-they-called-the-problem-and-what-changed-in-a-different-school-setting.md
Podcast: [ADHD Mums](https://stenobird.com/podcast/adhd-mums-6363089)
Published: 2026-03-23T19:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://adhdmums.com.au/captivate/the-teen-they-called-the-problem-and-what-changed-in-a-different-school-setting
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1d3f6578-a0c6-49d4-a3e8-6dea00360c7a.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/adhd-mums-6363089/episodes/92-the-teen-they-called-the-problem-and-what-changed-in-a-different-school-setting
Duration seconds: 1553

## Resource

There’s a moment when you realise it’s not just a ‘bad term’ at school. It’s mornings that feel impossible. A child who won’t go. Or can’t go. And suddenly the question changes from 'how do we fix this?' to 'where do we go now?' WHAT WE COVER – What actually happens when mainstream school stops working – Why some children aren’t ‘failing school’ — the system is failing them – The reality of alternative education (and the myths that scare parents) – Why behaviour often looks worse before safety is built – What smaller, relationship-based learning environments do differently – How to know if an alternative pathway might be right for your child – Why some kids return to mainstream — and some never should WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS There’s a gap no one talks about. Between ‘just try another school’ and ‘we can’t do this anymore’ And most parents fall straight into it with no map. This episode gives you language for that moment and shows you what actually exists on the other side. WHAT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE Not a ‘last resort’. Not a room full of ‘problem kids’. But often: – smaller class sizes – built-in sensory supports (not earned, not restricted) – flexible timetables – relationship-first teaching – success measured beyond academics Where safety comes before compliance and connection comes before curriculum. WHAT PARENTS OFTEN DON’T GET TOLD Alternative settings aren’t easier. They’re different. – Enrolment is often selective and thorough – Not every child is the right fit for every setting – There are waitlists – And options are limited depending on location But when it works it can completely change a child’s trajectory. THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF – Your child is anxious, refusing, or shutting down at school – You’ve tried multiple schools and nothin…

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## Transcript

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