Run by WEA Hunter, the college offers is a secondary school for year 9, 10 and senior students, set within an adult learning environment with programs focused on meeting individual students’ learning needs.

The Cessnock campus currently has 56 students, including 10 who are studying for next year’s HSC.

Some students struggled to fit into the mainstream school environment – some were bullied, others found larger classes overwhelming, one had previously been home-schooled.

Senior student Imogen Burke said the small class sizes are great.

“It’s really positive environment,” she said.

Alesco Cessnock campus coordinator Kelly White said the college offers a safe, supportive, positive adult learning environment.

“We are very diligent about bullying – we pride ourselves on making sure it stops,” she said.

Under the senior school structure, Alesco students complete three full HSC subjects in year 11, and three in year 12 – therefore, the class of 2018 will be Alesco Cessnock’s first graduating HSC class.

“Our students will finish with the same piece of paper as any school, public or private,” Ms White said.

They will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony in Newcastle with Alesco’s four other campuses.

Alesco Cessnock will soon be moving to WEA Hunter’s new premises in Hall Street, but the open day will run at its current home, the Cessnock TAFE D block.

The open day will run from 11am to 1pm Thursday. Find out more at weahunter.edu.au.