All teaching and learning in Catholic Schools in Western Australia is founded in the Curriculum Framework.

The Curriculum Framework is built upon a commitment to the philosophy that learning is continuous and the essential purpose is to improve the learning and achievement of all students.

It establishes learning outcomes expected of all students from K-12. These learning outcomes aim to ensure that all students in Western Australia have the knowledge, understandings, skills and values necessary to participate and prosper in a changing world and new millennium. They also aim to ensure that students achieve their personal best and develop a sense of pride in themselves, their schools, their environment and their society.

(Curriculum Framework, Curriculum Council, 1998)

To access the Curriculum Framework and support material online, click here

Support material include:

• Curriculum guides
• Progress maps
• K-10 Syllabuses

RAISe

The RAISe initiative is an opportunity for schools to work in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia to explore a whole school approach to school improvement. RAISe is a systemic program to assist students reach their potential.

The RAISe initiative for Primary and Composite schools is managed by the Primary Curriculum and Teaching Team of the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia. In 2007, there are 77 schools involved in this project.

The RAISe initiative seeks to:

• Focus on the student and consider their needs as the starting point for all improvement decisions.
• Empower school personnel to make decisions that have a positive impact on student achievement and engage them in dialogue about teaching and learning.
• Engage the wider educational community to ensure that schools work together and in consultation with each other as they tackle the complex issues related to improving education for all.
• Extend relationships with other educational institutions to ensure  the development, implementation and evaluation of key components of the RAISe initiative.

READING RECOVERY

Reading Recovery is an early literacy intervention and prevention program. In terms of intervention, the program provides intensive, individual help for children having difficulties in learning to read and write after approximately one year’s schooling. Through daily individual lessons of 30 minutes, children are helped to make rapid progress, catching up to the class average usually within 20 weeks. After completion of the program, they are able to work independently and successfully with an average group of learners in their classroom without additional specialist help. Children are discontinued from Reading Recovery when they are able to work with appropriate independence, using the same strategies which proficient literacy learners use to increase their control over reading and writing while engaging in classroom activities throughout the year.

The Catholic Education Office provides scholarships for teachers in schools that wish to implement Reading Recovery. Reading Recovery teacher training in Western Australia is provided by the Fogarty Learning Centre, Edith Cowan University.