General News
4 March, 2025
Magnifying turning point in learning
Initiative goes beyond traditional delivery of curriculum, writes Stephen O’Shannessy IN 2025, Catholic Education Sandhurst embarked on the largest multi-organisational school initiate in Australia. The introduction of Magnify across schools in...
Initiative goes beyond traditional deliveryof curriculum, writes Stephen O’Shannessy
IN 2025, Catholic Education Sandhurst embarked on the largest multi-organisational school initiate in Australia. The introduction of Magnify across schools in the Sandhurst Diocese, including St Mary’s, Inglewood marks a turning point in education. This evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative is designed to equip students with the tools they need to become confident, capable learners across all subject areas. Grounded in evidence-based practices,
Magnify goes beyond traditional curriculum delivery, offering a high level of instructional coaching and a calm classroom approach to ensure teachers can deliver the highest quality learning experiences.
The foundation of Magnify is built upon rigorous, research-backed programs, including MultiLit, Steplab, OCHRE, and Knowledge Society. Each of these components plays a vital role in reshaping education:
MultiLit (Making Up Lost Time in Literacy) is an evidence-based literacy curriculum and intervention program that supports readers with explicit, systematic instruction in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Steplab provides structured professional learning for teachers through incremental, practice-based coaching, ensuring continuous skill development and refinement across all subject areas.
OCHRE focuses on a low variance curriculum, reducing the cognitive load of educators so they can target their teaching practices and ensure an inclusive and meaningful approach for all students.
Knowledge Society brings expertise in educational behaviours, assisting schools in implementing best-practice strategies at scale.
While schools have adopted evidence-based approaches in specific subjects, Catholic Education Sandhurst is investing heavily in ensuring that teachers at St Mary’s receive direct, ongoing coaching from internationally recognised experts across the curriculum. This hands-on approach empowers our educators to master best-practice teaching strategies and effectively apply them in the classroom, significantly improving student outcomes in literacy, numeracy, and beyond.
Additionally, Magnify provides a low-variance, knowledge-rich curriculum, allowing teachers to focus their cognitive load on lesson delivery and identifying gaps in student knowledge. Research embedded in the Science of Learning emphasises that a well-sequenced, structured curriculum supports long-term knowledge retention by aligning with how the brain learns best. By reducing variability in content and instructional methods, educators can dedicate more attention to individual student progress.
At St Mary’s, students will benefit immensely from Magnify’s structured and research-based approach. The programs place a high emphasis on explicit teaching, positive classroom environments, and targets intervention so that every student, every teacher, every school, is supported in their learning journey every day. With a smaller staff-to-student ratio, St Mary’s is well-positioned to maximise the impact of Magnify, offering more personalised instruction and timely support for students who need it most.
The importance of high-quality instruction across all subjects cannot be overstated. Research shows that explicit, systematic teaching within a knowledge-rich curriculum leads to stronger academic outcomes and reduces educational inequities. By prioritising instructional coaching, Magnify ensures that every teacher can confidently deliver world-class education while fostering positive and engaging classrooms that support student wellbeing and motivation.
A holistic education must extend beyond academics. At St Mary’s, we recognise the importance of fostering not only cognitive growth but also the social and emotional wellbeing of our students. That is why we are committed to staff training in The Resilience Project and have appointed a Mental Health
in Primary Schools (MHiPS) leader. These programs equip educators with the skills to support students’ emotional resilience, mental wellbeing, and overall development. By embedding strategies that promote gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, St Mary’s ensures that students are not only achieving academically but also growing as well-rounded individuals who can navigate challenges with confidence.
As a principal in a rural community, I know firsthand the importance of providing students with the best possible education while ensuring families have access to quality schooling at an affordable cost. With the introduction of Catholic Education Sandhurst new Health Care Cards payment scheme, all HCC families in our community can now access high-quality education for just $10 per week. This initiative ensures that financial barriers do not stand in the way of students receiving the support, knowledge, and opportunities they deserve if families wish to choose Catholic education for their child.
Steven O’Shannessy is principal of St Mary’s Inglewood