A unique Sydney Catholic Schools support structure is in place to optimise learning for all students. High-quality inclusive education is provided for students with diverse learning profiles relating to: giftedness, speech, language, communication, vision, hearing, literacy acquisition and post-school pathways. Central office diverse learning teams work with our classroom teachers to enhance their capacity to maximise learning outcomes for students. Specialists in these teams collaborate widely to consolidate an inclusive approach to learning. Each school also has dedicated learning support staff.

Sydney Catholic Schools provides reasonable adjustments to assist and support students with disability to successfully engage in learning. All Sydney Catholic Schools engage in the annual Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for School Students with Disability. Students with moderate intellectual disabilities and complex developmental needs may benefit from the educational program at Eileen O’Connor Catholic College Lewisham or our Specialist Support Classes located onsite at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Hoxton Park and Good Samaritan Catholic College, Hinchinbrook.

Marist Catholic College Penshurst Gifted and Talented Education Program
The Gifted and Talented program aims to extend and enrich all aspects of a student’s life. The program embraces contemporary educational research in Gifted Education. Students are screened for the program using broad selection data including parent nomination forms and testing. Student results are tracked and monitored through the College assessment and reporting system. Students are challenged appropriately in all subjects, being given opportunities to complete extension work and engage in extension assessments. Extension achievement is reported upon in the College mid-course and final course report.

Differentiation of the Curriculum
Differentiation within the College curriculum ensures a variety of instructional approaches are used to modify content, process and/or products in response to the learning readiness and interest of academically diverse students. This ensures students receive an appropriate curriculum for their level of ability and achieve new learning each year.

Class Grouping Structures
The College incorporates a variety of class grouping structures to ensure students of like-ability are clustered together. In Year 7 to 10, gifted students are grouped into two selective extension classes according to ability and performance results. Teachers differentiate the curriculum and assessments to suit the ability level of each student in the class.

Mathematics Acceleration Program
Marist Catholic College Penshurst is an innovative, flexible learning community that is committed to enabling every student to achieve their personal best. Mathematics acceleration is one of a number of strategies available at Marist College to meet the needs of gifted and talented students. Acceleration allows a student who has demonstrated that they have advanced knowledge and skills in a particular domain to access a curriculum at least one year in advance of their current year level. Where a student has specific talents in a subject area, acceleration may be beneficial to the student’s overall academic achievement, well-being and overall school satisfaction.

Extra Curricular Program
Extra curricular activities are offered outside of class time to encourage talented students to explore and develop their skills and knowledge in a specific area.
Activities include:

• College Musical
• Debating
• Public Speaking
• Tournament of the Minds
• Da Vinci Decathlon
• Ethics Olympiad
• Cyber Taipian
• STEM Club
• History Research Group
• Italian Club
• Art Club
• Comic Club

Specific Learning Support

Through expert support and resources from Sydney Catholic Schools, we collaborate and deliver personalised plans for students who have cognitive or developmental disorders, sensory disability, autism, physical disability, and speech, language and communication disorders. These plans focus on specific educational goals and adjustments related to areas such as curriculum, communication and social skills.

Students learning English for the first time are supported by dedicated staff within our school, staff from the Sydney Catholic Schools offices, and programs for new arrivals.

We are committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families to ensure students obtain a high-quality education as a platform for achieving their full potential.