Toormina Public School

Location: Toormina, New South Wales

Toormina Public School has an enrolment of 274 students. Toormina Public School is a diverse community catering for approximately 25% Aboriginal, non-English speaking backgrounds and refugee students. The school has an enthusiastic, dedicated staff and wonderful community support.

How has your school used its Gonski funding?

In 2016, Toormina Public School received approximately $390 000 in Gonski funds. The funding has enabled the school to employ additional resources to support children with disabilities, engage the community, build the capacity of teachers through the successful implementation of Performance and Development Plans, teacher mentoring as well as supporting literacy and numeracy programs.

How has Gonski made a positive difference for students?

The positive impact Gonski is having has enable the school greater flexibility and creativity to invest in learning needs according to individual student needs. The increased funding has resulted in increased engagement, improved teacher professional support as well as an enhanced sense of belonging and connectedness for students and the community - no more evident than NAIDOC Week celebrations.

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

The full Gonski funding would enable Toormina PS to expand the support for individual students, further build the capacity of teachers through professional learning and increase community engagement across the school. At Toormina we will continue to focus on the improvement in literacy and numeracy skills of students, continue to provide our students with future-focused learning, continue to build a strong community.