How back-to-basics literacy and numeracy teaching transformed a struggling public school

One of Australia's most disadvantaged primary schools has transformed its NAPLAN results and is now "punching above its weight" after a shift in teaching methods.

Today Marsden Road Public School is a school transformed, with students achieving above the state average in writing and making above average progress in reading and numeracy.When Manisha Gazula took over as principal in 2016, nine out of 10 kids were going off to high school with sub-par reading skills.About 90 per cent of the outer western Sydney school's students speak a language other than English and of those, 40 per cent have been speaking English for fewer than three years.

The time spent emphasising discipline has meant the school has one of the lowest suspension rates in the country."To say that our kids cannot perform, we cannot have the same expectations as the kids living on the other side of the bridge — I will not accept that."The biggest change Ms Gazula made when she took over in 2016 was abandoning fashionable teaching practices like whole language.

"Yet when it comes to learning Maths or English, somehow we feel that different approaches are okay." The style incorporates old school practices — the teacher is firmly in charge — but it also incorporates the latest science on the way kids' brains best absorb new information.Since adopting explicit instruction the school has transformed its NAPLAN results and sustained them, with life-changing results for students.

"If they've got the good foundation, the numeracy and literacy, which is so important for them, you can go far," Mr Boateng said. After doing a work experience placement at Marsden Road, mum Ashty Fathi was so impressed she moved her oldest son to the school."I wanted him to have the best education and I knew at Marsden Road they would provide that."

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