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.

Arrowsmith Program

The Arrowsmith Program supports students with Specific Learning Difficulties who are enrolled in Year 2 to Year 12. The Arrowsmith Program is an intervention, designed to support the unique cognitive profile of each student by identifying and strengthening the student’s weak cognitive capacities. The Arrowsmith Program has shown to be an effective intervention for students having difficulty with reading, writing, mathematics, comprehension, non-verbal learning and attention.

The Arrowsmith program is a bespoke program available at an additional cost.

The Arrowsmith Program is based on the application of neuroscientific research demonstrating that it is possible to address learning difficulties by identifying and strengthening weak cognitive capacities. The Arrowsmith Program addresses the root causes of learning difficulties through tailored cognitive exercises rather than working around symptoms. The goal of the program is to enable students to become effective, confident and self-directed learners for life.

Sydney Catholic Schools offers the Arrowsmith Program in both full-time and part-time modes.

The Arrowsmith Program is suitable for students who are:

  • Of average to above-average intelligence documented through an educational psychological assessment such as a WISC V
  • Identified as having a combination of the learning dysfunctions described by the Arrowsmith Program’s cognitive profile Learning Dysfunctions addressed
  • Not diagnosed as having severe intellectual, emotional, mental or behavioural disorders that would significantly affect the capacity to participate in the Arrowsmith Program
  • Not identified as having a brain injury
  • Between Year 2 and Year 12.

See our Arrowsmith YouTube video:

Sydney Catholic Schools is accepting Expressions of Interest for the Arrowsmith Program at Holy Innocents’ Croydon, Sacred Heart Mosman and the Part-Time Program (after school hours) at Casimir College, Marrickville. Please register your interest in this program below.

Register your interest

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.

Reading Recovery is a short-term preventative early literacy intervention that provides extra help to Year 1 students who are identified as the lowest achievers in literacy. It helps students catch up to the average reading and writing level of their class and become independent readers and writers. Reading Recovery is delivered by a specially trained teacher.

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.