A south-eastern suburbs principal said mainstream secondary schools did not have the resources to cope with the special needs of students with social and emotional problems.

He referred a student who was having extreme difficulty coping. "I have been personally involved with [the student] for some years and I am convinced that his placement at Berengarra was the best fit."

Another principal who referred a student to Berengarra said the news was shocking. "This school has provided him the opportunities that no other school could. We witnessed his growth as an individual and the positive impact the school has made."

A teacher who helped one of her students secure a place at Berengarra said it was "appalling".