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
Aboriginal Education
Disabilities Support
Staff Development
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.
