CECG schools across the ACT have been praised for notable improvement in the latest NAPLAN results released this week on the My School website.

The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has identified the Top 20 Schools Making a Difference in each state and territory, comparing year on year data for 2023/24. Of the 20 top schools in ACT identified, 13 Catholic Education Canberra-Goulbourn (CECG) schools were recognised, a milestone widely acknowledged by media sources this week and celebrated as a clear endorsement of the power of High Impact Teaching Practice and explicit teaching.  

Following its launch over four years ago, Catalyst has transformed how teaching and learning is approached in CECG schools. By implementing High Impact Teaching Practice, grounded in Science of Learning and the Science of Reading, schools have seen positive growth and improvement in literacy and numeracy outcomes. 

CECG Director Ross Fox emphasised the program’s ongoing potential in an interview for RioTact –  

“We’re excited by these results, but we know there’s more we can achieve. The advancements in early years learning are encouraging, and we’re confident they’ll lead to sustained higher achievements over time.” 

Following the success of CECG schools, Good to Great Schools Founder and Co-Chair, Noel Pearson called for all schools to adopt explicit instruction in their classrooms.  In an interview for The Australian, he acknowledges all challenges schools face but emphasised,

“If you don’t get the instruction right, you’re going to fail anyway.”

Explore the Catalyst Approach to Teaching and Learning

Learn more about the Impact of Catalyst

See the Catalyst journey in our CECG schools

Watch the interviews with CECG Director, Ross Fox 

Sky News Interview with Peta Credlin 

ADH TV Interview with Daisey Cousens 

Read the articles

The Australian – A Revolution is Now Underway in Our Classrooms

The Australian – Rollout Direct Instruction to All Classrooms Says Noel Pearson 

Sarah Henderson MP – Media Release – Explicit Teaching Success Must Be Replicated In Every Classroom 

CathNews – Naplan Scores Soar After Return to Old-School Teaching Methods 

CathNews – Pearson calls for all schools to adopt direct instruction in classrooms 

The Canberra Times – Lessons to Learn from NAPLAN Results 

Riotact – ACT Catholic Schools show the way in My School Rankings