“Don’t ever underestimate the influence of young people who have a community education, such as that of Kerry Street, for their productive futures.”
Ron Gorman
Kerry Street Community School has always been shaped by the belief that children flourish in environments built on connection, trust, and community. Our story begins long before we settled into our home in Hamilton Hill – in a hall in East Fremantle, a group of determined families, and a vision for a different kind of education.
From Fremantle Alternative School to Kerry Street
In 1980, a group of Fremantle families — including the Jordan, Hille and Wiley families — founded Fremantle Alternative School (FAS). At a time when traditional schooling was formal and rigid, these families imagined a more human, child-centred approach. They wanted relationships at the heart of learning, not punishment or pressure.
Their first teacher and Coordinator, Ian Robertson, helped shape the school’s philosophy of trust, creativity, and connection. Mixed ages, inquiry, real-world learning and community involvement were part of daily life long before they became widely accepted in education.
The school moved through several temporary locations in its early years, each time held together by the commitment of staff and parents who were determined to keep its spirit alive.
Finding Our Home
By the late 1980s, the school faced a sudden eviction and a real possibility of closure. With no assets and very limited funding, survival depended entirely on community willpower.
Supporters rallied together — families, staff, friends of the school, and advocates like Ron Gorman from AISWA. Through personal loans, a federal grant, and an enormous amount of teamwork, the school purchased the former Kerry Street Kindergarten at 20 Forrest Road, Hamilton Hill.
In 1990, the school officially became Kerry Street Community School, marking a new beginning built on the same values that shaped its earliest days.
Growing While Staying True to Our Roots
Over the years, Kerry Street has navigated changes in governance, curriculum, enrolment and regulation. Each generation of families and staff has helped strengthen the school while preserving its essence.
A significant milestone in our growth was the expansion into 18 Forrest Road.
In 2006, a group of committed families — known as “the Syndicate” — pooled their finances to purchase the property next door in order to safeguard the school’s future. The house was initially tenanted, while the backyard was rented to the school to provide much-needed outdoor learning and play space.
In March 2014, the school was able to purchase the property from the Syndicate, allowing us to expand our learning spaces while remaining intentionally small and deeply connected to our community.
Throughout all changes, our commitment has remained the same:
children first, relationships first, community first.
A Living Part of Our Story
Since 1997, Tom Francas has been one of the most loved and recognisable figures at Kerry Street. Working across many roles, most notably in Early Childhood, Tom has shaped the experiences of generations of students with his humour, warmth, and deep belief in play-based, hands-on learning.
Tom is known for joining games, sparking imagination and helping children grow into confident, expressive learners. The hall once used for Kindy, now carries his name – the Francas Ruckus Hall – a tribute to his lasting impact.
Tom represents the heart of the school: joy, authenticity, community and care.
Honouring Our Past, Looking to Our Future
Our history is one of resilience, creativity, and community effort. Kerry Street has survived and flourished because families, staff and supporters believed deeply in the power of a small, relationship-driven school.
Today, our values of Connection, Curiosity, Compassion and Courage reflect the spirit that has guided us from our earliest beginnings.
We continue to learn from our past as we grow into the future – staying true to the principles that have always made Kerry Street a unique and nurturing place for children to thrive.
Our school obviously has its stated values, which we certainly live, but what I don’t think we acknowledge anywhere near enough, is the underlying personal attributes of the various people who make up our community. We have grit and we are resilient and creative and passionate about the education of every child who enrols at our school.
Karen Kennedy – Former Principal
For a deeper look into the stories, people and moments that shaped us, we invite you to explore: Swings and Roundabouts: A History of Kerry Street Community School 1981 to 2018. You can download a PDF version of this below.
