Flexible learning option (FLO) programmes have become an increasingly valuable alternative to mainstream schooling for approximately 70,000 students across Australia each year. These programmes aim to retain students who are at risk of leaving the school system prematurely by utilising person-centred, responsive, and trauma-informed approaches to schooling assessments and certifications. These programmes are especially important for students who have experienced trauma either at home or within mainstream schooling. In order to gain a better understanding of students' experiences of transitioning from mainstream schooling to an FLO programme, 30 students currently attending a FLO programme in South Australia were interviewed over two time periods about their experiences in both schooling systems. The findings highlight the challenging and at times traumatic experience of high pressure and low support in mainstream schooling, and conversely, the empowerment and support produced by the FLO programme delivery framework. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the findings for future FLO or other alternative schooling models.