In the heart of our rural community, Glenorie Public School is making waves with an approach that’s both refreshingly simple and powerfully effective: evidence-based teaching with a strong focus on the fundamentals. By placing ‘back to basics’ literacy and numeracy at the centre of learning, the school is ensuring that every child leaves with the foundational skills they need for life.
At Glenorie Public School our teachers use explicit teaching, where lessons are clear, structured, and step-by-step, so every child feels confident and supported as they learn. Nothing is left to guesswork, and families are noticing the results. At Glenorie PS, we know that children thrive when they have a strong grounding in literacy and numeracy. Our job is to give them the tools and confidence to succeed, and evidence shows that explicit teaching is the best way to do that.
With a strong focus on phonics in the early years and evidence-based spelling programs in the upper grades, Glenorie PS understands the key elements of language underpins learning. Writing lessons across the school are linked to other key areas of learning, such as geography, history and science to ensure high engagement and relevance.
Visitors to the school have stated, “It’s clear to see the school is so passionate about the writing programs and that’s fantastic”. At home, students describe the block planners used to plan their writing. Families are blown away by their enthusiasm and interest.
Parents report their children love writing for the first time as they feel they can be successful. They go on to describe how the block planner and chant has been great for their children.
Mathematics lessons from Kindergarten to Year 6 are designed to build on previously learnt knowledge, with learners met at their point of need and moved forward, with a constant check for understanding along the way.
Explicit teaching, where teachers clearly model skills, provide guided practice, and gradually hand over responsibility to students, has become the cornerstone of every classroom. Rather than leaving students to ‘discover’ concepts on their own, teachers chunk learning into manageable steps, ensuring no one is left behind.
Parents have noticed the difference. At our recent Open Day, one parent said, “My child comes home proud of what they’ve learned. They’re not only keeping up, they’re actually enjoying the challenge.”
Despite its small size, Glenorie Public School has built a reputation for excellence. Visitors often remark on the warm atmosphere, and the calm, purposeful classrooms, where children know exactly what they’re learning and why. Teachers regularly use assessment data to adjust lessons, making sure every student is supported and challenged.
But the school isn’t just about academics. As a rural hub, Glenorie Public School remains a gathering place for families, with community events, such as Grandparents’ Day and the Colour Run, as well as regular sporting events bringing passionate people together.
The strong relationships between teachers, students, and parents are at the heart of its success.
Mrs Rebecca Wallace, Principal, explains, “Explicit teaching, when combined with high expectations and a strong focus on wellbeing, creates a powerful learning environment where students clearly understand what is expected, feel supported and valued, and are motivated to achieve their best. This holistic approach not only builds knowledge and skills but also fosters resilience, confidence, and a positive mindset essential for lifelong success.”
In a time when many schools are grappling with new initiatives and shifting policies, Glenorie Public School stands out for its commitment to what works best. By keeping things simple, structured, and evidence-based, this little rural school is proving that the basics are anything but basic, they’re the foundation of bright futures.
