Jamisontown Public School

Location: Jamisontown, western Sydney

Jamisontown Public School situated in the municipality of Penrith at the base of the Blue Mountains in Sydney's west.

How has your school used its Gonski funding?

Extra Literacy and Numeracy Support

  • Gonski funds have enabled the school to employ an extra fully qualified teacher for two and a half days per week. This teacher has worked with small groups of children focusing on phonics, basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills.
  • Additionally, a teacher’s aide has been trained to administer the MiniLit program four days a week for students experiencing difficulties with reading and spelling.

    • Aboriginal Education

  • The Aboriginal Students Loading has allowed Jamisontown Public School to run a Koori Kids Club one afternoon per week for Aboriginal students.
  • All teachers and students at the school have also benefited from participating in sessions run by Aboriginal guest performers and speakers, as well as new educational resources paid for by this additional funding.

    • Disabilities Support

  • Teacher’s aides have been employed for extra hours to support students with special needs in the classroom.
  • They have also been employed to run social skills programs for children in need.

    • Staff Development

  • The students and teachers at Jamisontown Public School have both benefited from an increase in funds for teacher professional development.
  • Critically, the increased funds have allowed for extended mentoring of beginning teachers by more experienced colleagues.

    • How has Gonski made a positive difference for students?

    We are better meeting the needs of our children. Even from as early as Kindergarten, it is notable that many children who would have previously begun to disengage when it became apparent to them that they were falling behind, are persevering and improving. Their increased confidence and engagement means that less teaching time is devoted to addressing inappropriate behaviour. All students benefit from decreases in disruption.

    Furthermore, with an extra fully qualified teacher working two and a half days per week and with more teacher’s aide time, teachers report increased time for incorporating technology and extension activities for children who are working at a higher level

    What could your school do with Gonski funding in the future?

    Despite these improvements, there is still much work to be done. In their separate submissions to the Gonski Review, both the staff and Parents and Citizens Association of Jamisontown Public School noted the need for support from professionals in speech therapy and occupational therapy.

    The fifth and sixth years of the transition to the Gonski model account for approximately two thirds of the increases in funding. The staff is aware of the needs of students that can still be better met.

    Accordingly, the school community are anxious to begin addressing the need of increased speech and occupational therapy support, programs for the gifted and talented, as well as investment in technology. These are priorities to ensure that our children receive the type of dynamic education that is required in a rapidly changing, globalised world.

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