The hands on learning program gets teachers with a trade qualification to work one day a week on practical projects with students.

At the Huon campus, this involved building a pizza oven.

Students and staff were indulging in the end product on Friday - the pizza was so good even some students from Murray High turned up.

Wodonga Middle Years teacher Stephen Hard, who has also worked as a carpenter, told The Border Mail Huon’s year 7, 8 and 9 students had taken to the program.

“It’s really good to see them when they get a sense of achievement because, for a lot of these kids, the main classroom is just a failure arrangement really, because they aren't doing well in mainstream classes,” he said.

“But when they come in here and build a pizza oven – it’s tangible evidence they’ve done something and other kids like it, so they have better self-esteem.

“It leads to better attendance and then they’ll go better in the mainstream system.”

The process involved teachers approaching Mr Hard about students they were concerned about who were struggling.

Those students were then placed on a trial, but Mr Hard said once they were on, not many left.

Having started two years ago, about 30 students are going through the program at both campuses. 

They use basic maths when calculating distances, measurements and quantities in the construction.

Arts leader Kim O'Shea said it provided students with good role models.

“It makes their learning more real, it gives them support, the personal growth of those boys has been evident and amazing, it really has,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean they’re perfect, because they’re not. 

“But their personal growth, it’s such authentic learning, and they see the results. They know they’re making a positive contribution to society and school.”