After 50 suspensions, Britnie ended up at a school of last resort. Experts say her success should be the norm

An alternative state school in Melbourne’s north that caters to at-risk students is turning lives around and providing a model for early invention outside the youth justice system

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

By year 8 of high school, Britnie Magnani had racked up more than 50 suspensions.

The emotions from her turbulent home life would sometimes spill out at school and she would verbally lash out. At other times, she says, she was suspended after hanging around with the “wrong crowd”.