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.

Specialist Support Classes

Specialist Support Classes meet the faith, educational, social and wellbeing needs of students by providing a rigorous, yet highly supported educational program for students with intellectual disabilities and complex needs. Students’ educational needs are met through:

  • Evidence-based strategies and targeted resourcing
  • Individualised planning and goal setting
  • Highly skilled and experienced teachers
  • Engaging and holistic learning experiences
  • Smaller class sizes and a high teacher to student ratio
  • Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist within class supports

Every student is encouraged to excel in a multitude of ways, through personalised and self-paced learning, where student voice and special interests are incorporated into the class program. Students enrolled in Specialist Support Classes will be important, valued members of the school community and will be included in every aspect of the life of the school. Students may also be eligible for the Assisted Supported Travel Program.

Both schools are accepting Expressions of Interest for families who are interested in applying for a position in one of the support classes. Please follow the links below to complete Expression of Interest forms.

Newman Selective Gifted Education Program

Exclusive to Sydney Catholic Schools

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program is our unique way of supporting gifted students. We focus on the whole child: their ability, creativity, character, and faith — not just their academic achievements.

The program offers:

  • Challenging and personalised learning in the classroom 
  • A range of enrichment opportunities across all areas and subjects 
  • A strong focus on social and emotional growth, so students thrive in all areas of life

Our goal is to help every gifted student reach their full potential, no matter their background.

Why Newman is different

Unlike public selective schools, the Newman Program doesn’t just look at academic achievement. 

We recognise that giftedness can show up in many ways — intellectual, creative, social, emotional, or physical.

How students are selected

We use a range of assessments, including teacher and parent nominations.

When Year 5 students are enrolling into a Newman secondary school, parents are invited to nominate their child for the school’s Newman Selective Gifted Education Program. Parents may supply evidence of their child’s giftedness and/or achievement for consideration. Nominated students are invited by the school to sit the HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test) in March of Year 6. A range of data, including the HAST results, is used to select students for the Newman Program.   

All gifted learners are supported including:

  • Twice-exceptional students (gifted students who also have a learning or developmental disability) 
  • Students from diverse cultural and language backgrounds (EAL/D) 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students 
  • Students who may be underachieving

Opportunities for students

Newman students benefit from:

  • Personalised learning pathways that extend and challenge them in their strengths
  • Selective Newman classes so they can work with like-minded peers
  • Specialist workshops, competitions, and projects that go beyond the standard curriculum.

Newman at MSJ

As a Newman Selective Stream School, our gifted students are clustered together in Newman classes so that they may benefit from the challenge posed by like-minded peers. The strengths, interests and goals of each gifted student are acknowledged and our teaching staff work to ensure that through a variety of differentiated activities students are able to work to their personal potential.

In addition, enrichment opportunities are offered throughout the year to further extend students’ skills outside of the classroom. These include, but are not limited to, debating and public speaking; computer coding workshops; inter-school mathematics, science and engineering challenges; musical and drama productions; art competitions; and creative writing workshops and competitions.

Every year, Newman students are given the opportunity to use their skills and interests in different areas of learning to work on a project that is showcased at our annual Symposium. In 2020, our theme is “Curiosity and Change” and you can view our Virtual Symposium here.

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.

To support all girls to develop to their full potential, a variety of learning services exist. One of these is the Judith Rawson Learning Centre (affectionately known as Joe’s Place) which provides learning support, counselling services, pastoral support and careers advice in an environment which engages families and empowers students to take charge of their learning.

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.

Our EAL/D expert works collaboratively with teachers across the curriculum to ensure effective identification and learning strategies are employed.

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.