Magnify Matters

What if we approached early numeracy with the same precision as early reading?

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Craig Simpson [Learning Leader, Catholic Education Sandhurst] is joined by Kelly Norris, Manager of Early Numeracy Research at the Centre for Independent Studies, for a conversation about the growing evidence behind early numeracy screening and why identifying students at risk early can change learning trajectories.

Drawing on her experience as an early childhood teacher, researcher and developer of the Early Number Sense Assessment (ENSA), Kelly explores the critical building blocks of mathematical learning and the importance of knowing not just what to assess, but why it matters.

Together, Craig and Kelly explore:

• Why early numeracy deserves the same evidence-informed attention as early reading.
• The development of the ENSA and how it helps identify students who may need additional support.
• Why number sense, number relations and number operations are the strongest predictors of future mathematical success.
• The role of fluency in reducing cognitive load and strengthening reasoning and problem solving.
• How the instructional hierarchy provides a practical pathway from acquisition to fluency, and ultimately to deeper mathematical thinking.

Whether you're teaching Foundation, leading a school or supporting system improvement, this conversation explores how strong foundations in numeracy create better outcomes for every learner.

Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• The Centre for Independent Studies

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 52 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating more than 15,200 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10).

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

What does it take for teachers to keep getting better?

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards is joined by Josh Goodrich, founder and CEO of StepLab, for a conversation about instructional coaching, professional growth and the science of improving teaching practice.

Drawing on his own experience as an early career teacher in some of England’s most challenging schools, Josh reflects on the coaching model that transformed his practice and ultimately shaped the development of StepLab, now used by schools and systems around the world.

Together, Tim and Josh explore:

• Why instructional coaching is one of the most effective forms of professional learning

• The difference between direct instruction and discovery learning

• How rehearsal, feedback and deliberate practice support teacher growth

• Why teachers must sometimes learn like novices again

• The six-step StepLab framework and its growing impact in schools and systems

Steplab are a Magnify Sandhurst partner, playing a pivotal role in instructional decision-making and support for teachers across our 51 schools. We are thrilled to welcome Josh and the rest of the Steplab Australia team to Shepparton in May for an exclusive session with all Sandhurst principals and leaders. In this episode, Josh also references recent research on the impact of StepLab’s work in schools across England. Congratulations to the Steplab team, and we’re excited to share details with Sandhurst principals.

Whether you are in the classroom, leading a team or supporting system improvement, this is a thoughtful conversation about coaching, expertise and keeping improvement simple enough to sustain.

Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Josh Goodrich
• Steplab
• Get Better Faster
• Teach like a champion
• Rosenshine Principles

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10).

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Effective teaching is deliberate, informed and refined over time.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards is joined by Dr Nathaniel Swain - teacher, instructional coach and founder of Think Forward Educators - for a conversation on what effective teaching looks like in today’s classrooms.

Drawing on his experience across schools, universities and instructional coaching, Nathaniel explores how the science of learning can support teachers to make better decisions — not by adding complexity, but by bringing clarity to what works.

Together, Tim and Nathaniel explore:

• Why time is the most precious resource in the classroom and how to use it well.
• The importance of explicit, whole-class instruction as a starting point for learning.
• How knowledge builds knowledge and why strong foundations matter.
• The role of working memory, cognitive load and structured teaching.
• How to build challenge and extension without creating multiple lessons.
• The power of checks for understanding and responsive teaching.
• Why great teaching is both structured and adaptive.

Whether you are in the classroom, leading a team or supporting system improvement, this is a conversation about making every minute of learning count.

Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Dr Nathaniel Swain

Dr Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, instructional coach and writer. He produces a blog for teachers called Dr Swain’s Cognitorium and is co-host of the Chalk Dust Podcast with Rebecca Birch. Nathaniel works directly with schools and systems and through an online learning platform called Luminary.

Having worked at universities and government school systems in Victoria, Nathaniel has taught a range of learners in schools and tertiary settings. In 2019, Nathaniel founded a community of teachers committed to the Science of Learning: THINK FORWARD EDUCATORS, now 30,000 members and growing. He also has a book titled 'Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success stories to help kickstart your school improvement'.

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10).

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Teaching should not be as hard as it sometimes feels, for teachers or for students.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) is joined by Katie Webster and Katie Roberts-Hull from Teach Well for a conversation about what it takes to translate evidence into everyday classroom practice.

Drawing on their work across more than 900 schools, Katie Webster and Katie Roberts-Hull reflect on the realities of school improvement, from early career teaching experiences to system-wide professional learning, and what it takes to move beyond one-off professional development to something that genuinely shifts teaching.

As partners in the Magnify Sandhurst journey, they connect research to practice, exploring how modelling, feedback and sustained support build teacher confidence and create the conditions for every student to learn.

Together they explore:

• Why calm, orderly and predictable learning environments are the foundation for effective teaching and learning.
• What doesn't work in professional learning, and why one-off workshops rarely lead to sustained change in practice.
• Why teachers need to see what effective instruction looks like, not just hear the theory behind it.
• How retrieval practice, review and full participation strengthen learning and support long-term memory.
• Why system improvement relies on coherence, shared language and continuous learning over time.

Whether you’re in the classroom, leading a school or working across a system, this episode offers practical insight and a clear reminder that improving teaching is not about doing more, but about doing what works, consistently and well.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Teach Well
• Ochre Education
• Classroom Mastery

Teach Well create life-long learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders, that translate research into action, improving outcomes for all students. Across Australia, 8,800+ educators and 650+ schools have improved student learning and engagement through its programs. In 2025, Teach Well joined forces with Ochre Education to deepen its collective impact, bringing together Teach Well’s expertise in professional development and Ochre Education’s comprehensive curriculum offerings. Ochre Education is a national not-for-profit, that supports teachers and expands student access to comprehensive high-quality curriculum through a free online library.

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10).

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Literacy is not a matter of luck, postcode or chance; it’s a matter of equity, access and social justice.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, one of Australia’s leading voices in literacy, language and the science of learning, joins Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) for a conversation about what it takes to ensure every child learns to read well.

Pam reflects on the personal, professional and research journey that has shaped her national leadership in literacy, from speech pathology and brain injury rehabilitation to her advocacy for evidence-informed reading instruction and the establishment of La Trobe University’s SOLAR Lab.

As a trusted contributor to early Magnify Sandhurst conversations, Pam helps connect decades of research to the lived realities of classrooms, teachers and systems working to lift learning outcomes for every student.

In this episode, Tim and Pam explore:

1. Why learning to read is a social justice issue, not an individual outcome.
2. What cognitive science tells us about how children learn to read and why the debate went on for so long.
3. Why the first three years of school matter more than any later intervention.
4. How strong Tier 1 instruction supports both learning and wellbeing.
5. The role of speech pathologists and interdisciplinary collaboration in schools.
6. Why lifting teacher expertise lifts the profession itself.

Whether you’re teaching in the early years, leading a school, shaping system-wide improvement or supporting learning at home, this episode offers clear principles, grounded insight and a strong case for doing fewer things — better — for every learner.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

1. Professor Pamela Snow
2. The Snow Report
3. The Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab
4. Magnify Sandhurst
5. Catholic Education Sandhurst

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Neuroscientist and educator Dr Jared Cooney Horvath returns to Magnify Matters for a fast, practical check-in on what lifts learning from knowledge-rich curriculum and whole-class instruction to cutting through the noise on EdTech.

In conversation with Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning & Teaching), Jared reflects on Sandhurst’s momentum since his three-day intensive earlier this year, and also previews his new book The Digital Delusion including that now-famous Hugh Grant blurb.

Together, Tim and Jared explore:

• What knowledge-rich, low-variance looks like in real classrooms
• Why whole-class instruction builds empathy, synchrony and deeper understanding
• How background knowledge speeds new learning and boosts creativity
• Practical ways to align teachers, students and parents around the same learning language
• Where EdTech helps, where it harms, and how to keep people at the centre
• What’s next for Magnify Sandhurst in 2026.

Whether you’re in the classroom or leading a school, this episode offers clear principles, memorable stories and next steps you can use tomorrow.

Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst  
• LME Global
• The Digital Delusion

Dr Jared Cooney Horvath is a cognitive neuroscientist and educator with expertise in human learning, memory, and brain stimulation. He is the co-founder of LME Global, a company dedicated to bringing the Science of Learning to schools and learning communities worldwide. Jared has published four books, including the bestseller 'Stop Talking, Start Influencing', and has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, and The Economist. Jared is passionate about bridging the gap between laboratory research and classroom practice, helping teachers and students achieve better outcomes through applied brain science.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Welcome back to Season 2 of Magnify Matters, as we explore what’s next for teachers and leaders as Magnify Sandhurst moves from launch to sustained impact.

In this episode, Kate Fogarty (Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director)and Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) look back on a big year and set the course for what’s next in Magnify Sandhurst.

From UK insights to local action, this episode maps how we "go hard, go early" and go together in 2026.

Together, Tim and Kate explore:

• What we learned from visiting high-performing UK trusts
• Why early identification and intervention matter
• Writing, spelling and literacy priorities for 2026
• Expanding Ochre beyond maths into science and strengthening a knowledge-rich pathway into secondary
• What's ahead in 2026 including syste, wide oral language screening, a tiered wellbeing curriculum and explicit culture statement for Catholic Education Sandhurst.

Whether you’re in the classroom or leading a school, season two sets out the next steps for lifting learning across the Sandhurst Diocese.

Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Classroom Mastery
• Knowledge Society 
• Learning Made Easy
• Steplab
• Ochre
• AERO reports

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

It’s been just six months but the impact of Magnify Sandhurst is already clear.

In this season finale of Magnify Matters, host Kate Fogarty (Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director) is joined by Tim Edwards (Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) and Ashley Marsh (Assistant Director: School Improvement and Safeguarding) for a wide-ranging conversation on the progress of Magnify Sandhurst across Terms 1 and 2.

From the rollout of evidence-informed programs like MultiLit, Ochre and Classroom Mastery to the introduction of Steplab and the new Source of Life curriculum, this episode unpacks what’s working, what’s changing and what’s coming next.

We also look ahead to an exciting study tour to the UK, where Catholic Education Sandhurst will visit leading multi-school systems and trusts, gathering insight to shape the future of learning across our diocese.

In this episode, we explore:

• How teachers and schools are engaging deeply with literacy, curriculum and coaching
• The shift from lesson design to intellectual preparation
• How low-variance practices are building consistency and connection
• The early signs of student learner growth and why that matters
• What Sandhurst hopes to learn from UK school systems in its next evolution

Whether you're a school leader, classroom teacher or parent curious about how system change actually works — this episode captures the momentum of Magnify and the shared commitment behind it.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Classroom Mastery
• Knowledge Society 
• Learning Made Easy
• Steplab
• Ochre

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 56 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 19,750 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

What are school leaders noticing as Magnify Sandhurst comes to life in our schools and classrooms?

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching at Catholic Education Sandhurst, sits down with Catholic Education Sandhurst Learning Leader Craig Simpson to reflect on the insights gathered from four school principals:

• Lorraine Willis, Principal, Catholic College Wodonga
• Matt Carver, Executive Principal, Saint Mary of the Angels College & St Francis Primary Nathalia
• Jasmine Ryan, Principal, St Mary’s Primary Echuca
• Alannah Darmody, Principal, St Liborius Primary Eaglehawk

Each principal shares how Magnify Sandhurst is unfolding in their school community – from clearer school expectations and positive routines to the growing impact of coaching and curriculum coherence.

 In this episode, we explore:

• How consistency is building momentum and confidence among teachers
• What leaders are noticing as clarity and shared approaches take root
• The shift from individual effort to collective practice
• Why culture change is built through relationships and high standards
• What’s next for 2025 and beyond

Whether you're teaching, leading, supporting system change, or listening in as a parent, this episode captures the early impact of Magnify Sandhurst from those closest to the work.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Classroom Mastery
• Knowledge Society 
• Learning Made Easy
• Steplab
• Ochre
• Catholic College Wodonga
• Saint Mary of the Angels College Nathalia
• St Francis Primary Nathalia
• St Mary’s Primary Echuca
• St Liborius Primary Eaglehawk

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 56 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 19,750 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Great teaching starts with calm, predictable classrooms and it doesn’t happen by chance.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Ashley Marsh, Assistant Director: School Improvement and Safeguarding at Catholic Education Sandhurst, is joined by Dr Tim McDonald and Sara Wiggins from Classroom Mastery, to unpack the strategies, structures and mindset shifts that create classrooms where learning thrives.

With experience spanning classroom teaching, system leadership, research, and hands-on coaching, Tim and Sara share what it takes to embed consistent, evidence-informed behaviour routines across schools, and why that work is foundational to teaching and learning.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Classroom Mastery was developed and why it's resonating across Australia.
• What makes classroom routines like “entry”, “exit” and “cue to start” so effective.
• How Catholic schools in the Sandhurst Diocese are adapting the model to their own context through Magnify Sandhurst.
• Why this work isn’t about control — it’s about consistency, belonging and the students.
• The research behind behaviour and how low-level disruptions impact achievement.

Whether you’re an early career teacher, a seasoned leader or curious parent, this episode offers practical insight, grounded expertise and real strategies for creating the conditions that allows learning to stick.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters. 

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst
• Classroom Mastery
• Knowledge Society 
• Australian Education Research Organisation(AERO)
• Tom Bennett
• ABC 7.30 Report - School behaviour change program for disruptive classrooms
• Explicit Direct Instruction by John Hollingsworth and Silvia Ybarra

Classroom Mastery provides leaders and teachers with the knowledge, skills and strategies they need to create classroom behaviours and school culture that foster positive learning environments for all students.

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 56 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 19,750 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.