Media Release

SCHOOLS RECEIVE NATIONAL LITERACY AWARDS

K8309 7 September 1999

The winners of the inaugural National Literacy Week Awards for Literacy and Numeracy Achievement were announced at a special national presentation ceremony in Melbourne today by the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp.

The Commonwealth has provided a total of 70 awards for primary schools across Australia. Ten major awards valued at $10,000 each and 60 awards of $1,000 each, recognise and reward schools that have been able to demonstrate visible improvement of students’ literacy and numeracy performance.

"The schools which won the major $10,000 awards have proved that the level of literacy and numeracy of primary school children can be dramatically improved with increased effort, flexible and innovative teaching methods and if priority is placed on achieving these skills.

"While many schools have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the teaching of literacy and numeracy, there are ten that stand out as examples of effective practice in literacy and numeracy instruction. In many cases the ground-breaking literacy programmes have set new standards for improvements in literacy and numeracy tuition."

Dr Kemp said the schools had shown what could be done when teachers, students and whole school communities work together to improve literacy and numeracy results. These innovative programmes have been well structured and based on sound research. They have included activities ranging from the formation of special clubs to linking day to day activities to literacy and numeracy teaching.

"Across these 70 award-winning schools, we see literacy and numeracy programmes that have the wholehearted and enthusiastic support of the school community. Whether they are from the inner city or small country towns, one of the most impressive things about the award nominees is that they represent schools that cater for a great diversity of students from different social, cultural and language backgrounds."

The National Literacy Week Awards for Literacy and Numeracy Achievement are not just about rewarding schools for their work. They also deliver an important message to the Australian community that both government and non-government schools are making real progress under the National Literacy and Numeracy Plan.

The schools which have won a $10,000 national award are:

• Belmore South Public School, Belmore, Sydney NSW;
• Florey Primary School, Florey ACT;
• Forest Crescent Primary School, Thornlie, Perth WA;
• Garbutt State School, Townsville Queensland;
• Holy Spirit Primary School, east Thornbury, Melbourne, Victoria;
• Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre, Billiluna Station, East Kimberley WA;
• Millner Primary School, Millner, Darwin NT;
• O’Sullivan Beach Primary School, O’Sullivan Beach, Adelaide SA;
• Smithton Primary School, Smithton, Burnie, Tasmania;
• Yarrunga Primary School, Wangaratta, Victoria;

More information about National Literacy Week and the National Literacy Week Awards for Literacy and Numeracy Achievement, is at www.detya.gov.au/literacyweek/

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