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Leaders

Supporting principals and leadership teams to deliver excellent learning experiences and embed evidence-based teaching practice in all classrooms.

ABOUT CATALYST

Our Approach

Catalyst aspires to transform lives through learning. Through this approach, we empower our leaders and teachers to embed High Impact Teaching Practice in the classroom, by providing high-quality professional learning, resources and support, all informed by research. 

Our Bold Goals

In 2020, we created a vision and approach of system-wide change, focusing on our teachers as the most important learner, to improve student learning across the Archdiocese. In three years, 56 schools, 1,700 teachers and more than 21,000 students have engaged in the Catalyst journey in someway. NAPLAN achievement data is a positive early indicator that we are heading in the right direction as we strive towards our Bold Goals.

Throughout our journey, we have consistently monitored, adapted, and refined the Catalyst program to transition from initial implementation to embedding and sustaining long-term practice change, all while staying true to our bold goals.

Bold Goal One

Every Student is a Competent Reader

Supporting every student with high-quality literacy programs to enable them to reach their learning potential.

Bold Goal Two

High Impact Teaching Practice is visible in every classroom

Delivering impactful lessons combining evidence-based teaching practice and high-quality curriculum resources to improve student learning.

Key Materials

Transform Learning with Catalyst

Implementing Our Approach

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CONTACT US

Let our journey guide your success

Creating the culture for sustained change is challenging. The knowledge and expertise gained from our own journey can provide the support and resources to ensure that your experience in embedding High Impact Teaching Practice is as smooth as possible. Our Catalyst approach has been designed to seamlessly integrate into the classroom, so that it is readily adopted by teachers.

Interested in bringing the impact of Catalyst to your school? Get in touch for more information.

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The Impact

Since launching in 2020

of teachers would recommend the Catalyst approach to their colleagues

4 in 5

teachers endorse the Catalyst Approach. They report saving up to 6 hours per week

of teachers indicated they would not go back to the way they taught before Catalyst

See the impact

Testimonials

Lorraine Hammond
AM Associate Professor, School of Education, Edith Cowan University

“Catalyst has not only transformed the academic lives of students, but changed the culture of schools too.”

Anna Masters
Principal at Merici College, Braddon

“We like to be innovative, best-practice, and informed by research. As soon as our staff saw that Catalyst was underpinned by excellent research, they got on board … It’s been a massive success”

Jo Wain
Principal, St Bernard’s Primary School, Batemans Bay

“The teachers are absolutely more confident in the classroom because they have that knowledge base of the Science of Learning and the Science of Reading. We’re setting the students up for success”

Jodie Tame
Teacher at St Anne’s Catholic College – Temora

“Students know to expect daily reviews, it’s not a shock when they walk into my classroom, because they’ve done it in every other classroom during the day.

There’s consistency across the board. Students who come into the Year 7 from other (CECG) schools pick it up really easily because everyone else is doing it too.” 

Anna Masters
Principal at Merci College – Braddon

“As soon as our staff saw that Catalyst was underpinned by excellent research, they got onboard.”

    FOR TEACHERS

    High performing teachers are enabled by strong leadership

    Leaders should work with their teachers to define priority focus areas, for collective efficacy and consistency in classroom practice.

    Teachers are empowered to implement HITP in the classroom with comprehensive resources, continuous professional learning, collaboration and feedback.

    Explore how we support teachers to deepen their expertise and focus on evidence-based classroom practice.

    Learn more

    For parents

    Bringing parents along the journey

    Teachers can work with families to help them understand the Catalyst approach, how it’s implemented in classrooms, and how it can benefit their children at school and in life. Catalyst has detail available to support parents in learning about our approach, and how to help at home.

    Learn more

    FAQs

    Answers to your most commonly asked questions

    • How are leaders supported to implement Catalyst in their school?

      Leaders are supported to gain the knowledge and expertise they need to implement Catalyst in their school through professional learning, networking and mentoring opportunities.

      Leaders are empowered to plan and implement their schools Catalyst journey to ensure they get maximum impact within their context.

      To ensure all schools can implement Catalyst effectively, CECG’s Teaching & Learning Team and Performance and Improvement Leaders work with each school individually to determine a suitable implementation plan and timeline.

      Explore more information For Leaders

      How does Catalyst support Curriculum resourcing?

      Catalyst supports curriculum resourcing and assessment across the system by curating selected high-quality resources that align to the Australian Curriculum and NSW Syllabus.

      Curriculum resources have been developed to support in areas of English and mathematics, with more learning areas across primary and secondary to be explored. These resources have been made available to CECG schools within the school’s Catalyst Team.

      Literacy Curriculum supports and resources are also available for schools including The Writing Revolution, Spelling Mastery, MiniLit and MacqLit. For more information on these resources please speak with the Teaching and Learning team.

      Learn more about Literacy

      How do teachers integrate Direct Instruction, Explicit Instruction and Inquiry learning in their lessons?

      Catalyst provides professional learning in evidence-based pedagogy through High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP) and Literacy.

      Catalyst prioritises an Explicit and Direct Instruction approach as the most effective and efficient way to teach students, who in most cases are novice learners. Students across our schools have opportunity to inquire, explore and create but we work towards doing this from a place of knowledge. It isn’t about one or the other, but it is about Explicit and Direct Instruction before Inquiry.

      Teachers are empowered to deliver High Impact Teaching Practice into their lessons for all students and to respond accordingly thereafter based on student response and needs.

      Learn more about HITP

      What does Catalyst mean for a classroom teacher?

      Catalyst provides them with professional learning and coaching opportunities.

      All teachers in the Archdiocese engage in components of Catalyst professional learning and develop an understanding of how to implement High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP) in their classrooms.

      Each school will have a different implementation timeline and journey. For more information on your school’s journey, speak with your Principal or Leadership Team.

      Learn more about our Teaching Approach

      What curriculum areas is Catalyst prioritising?

      Catalyst connects with all curriculum areas with a priority focus on literacy and numeracy across all year levels.

      Research has shown the importance high-quality of early learning to future academic success. Our literacy focus for the early years (K-2) will provide all students with the foundational skills for future learning.

      Further, a review of CE’s performance in 2020, found that student outcomes could be improved in mathematics, across all year levels. Through Catalyst, a suite of high-quality curriculum resources for K-10 Maths is in development.

      Learn more about our Teaching Approach

      How does Catalyst work in a secondary school setting?

      High Impact Teaching Practice is designed for all grades and learning areas. HITP empowers teachers to embed Science of Learning in their classrooms, no matter the year level or subject they are teaching.

      CECG are committed to developing high quality curriculum resources for secondary teachers, with Years 7-10 Maths in development and other curriculum areas to follow.

      How are support staff involved in the Catalyst journey?

      Classroom Support Assistants (CSAs) are engaged in whole school Catalyst professional learning and trained in MiniLit and Macqlit intervention programs.

    • What is Catalyst?

      Catalyst ensures every student in every classroom has access to high-quality instruction from teachers who deliver engaging and impactful lessons.

      Catalyst provides a consistent approach to teaching and learning across our Archdiocese, making the movement for teachers and students between schools seamless.

      This teaching and learning approach is based on the best available research on how students learn, retain and retrieve information.

      Learn more about our Teaching Approach
      Learn more about Catalyst

      Why do we need Catalyst?

      Catalyst ensures every student in every classroom has access to high-quality instruction from teachers who deliver engaging and impactful lessons.

      Catalyst provides a consistent approach to teaching and learning across our Archdiocese, making the movement for teachers and students between schools seamless.

      This teaching and learning approach is based on the best available research on how students learn, retain and retrieve information.

      Explore our Teaching Approach

      How does Catalyst align with the CECG vision?

      Catalyst aligns to the CECG strategic plan Faith in Learning through our committment to supporting our teachers in their vocation to enrich students’ lives through learning. Catalyst aligns to CECG vision of “Jesus Christ, our greatest teacher, calls us to share and bear witness to our Catholic Faith and Tradition, build inclusive communities and deliver contemporary quality learning opportunities for every person.”

      Catalyst does this by supporting our teachers, Leaders, and Principals to transform students’ lives through learning ensuring excellence and equity in education

      Learn more about Catalyst

      Where can I learn more about the foundation research that underpins Catalyst?

      Catalyst is backed by a comprehensive body of knowledge and research on how students learn to read, known as the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning.

      Explore our Teaching Approach

      Learn more about the Science of Learning by checking out the resources available in the Catalyst Knowledge Packs –
      Knowledge Pack 1.0
      Knowledge Pack 2.0
      Knowledge Pack 3.0

      How will Catalyst improve Teaching and Learning outcomes?

      Catalyst is based on the best available research on how students learn, retain and retrieve information.

      Leveraging this research ensures our approach and the implementation it in our classrooms is the most effective and efficient way possible for student learning.

      Explore the impact

      Where can I find out more about working with CECG and Catalyst?

      With 56 schools and 9 early learning centres across ACT & NSW we’re working to support the development of excellent principals, leadership teams and teachers in schools across the Archdiocese, through the Catalyst program.

      Explore CECG career opportunities

    Explore our FAQs