More than 200 educators from eight Catholic primary schools will come together at St Thomas More Primary School in Ballarat on Tuesday 1 September for a major professional learning day focused on improving literacy outcomes for every student.
The event is part of Flare Primary Literacy, Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited’s (DOBCEL) long-term primary literacy improvement strategy. Running from 2025 to 2035 and aligned with DOBCEL Strategy 2035, Flare has a clear ambition: all primary school graduates will be confidently literate.
Teachers, principals, school leaders and learning support staff will spend the day examining contemporary research and classroom practice and strengthening their understanding of the approaches that have the greatest impact on reading and writing.
A key focus will be literacy within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), including strong Tier 1 classroom instruction, targeted intervention and adaptive teaching. Educators will also explore explicit instruction and the science of learning, with practical strategies for checking student understanding, creating more opportunities for students to respond and using evidence of learning to inform teaching decisions.
The professional learning day will also showcase new Literary Text Study units and Narrative Writing resources and explore the important role of assessment and data in strengthening classroom instruction.
Participants will work with DOBCEL’s purpose-built Literacy Data Tool, developed specifically for diocesan schools to provide a consistent approach to entering and analysing student data and using that evidence to make informed instructional decisions.
Flare brings curriculum, professional learning, assessment, data and leadership support together in a system-wide approach to literacy improvement. Its structured literacy methodology supports systematic, cumulative and explicit teaching while providing students with opportunities to build vocabulary, knowledge and comprehension through an integrated, knowledge-rich curriculum.
The September 1 gathering is part of Phase B of Flare’s Guided Literacy Improvement syllabus, supporting schools as they move from building knowledge about structured literacy and the science of learning into implementation in classrooms.
The day will bring research, evidence, assessment and professional collaboration together, while giving educators from across Ballarat an important opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen a shared approach to literacy.
At its heart, Flare recognises that literacy is foundational to learning, wellbeing and participation in life. By investing in teachers and building consistent, evidence-informed approaches across schools, DOBCEL is working towards ensuring every student has the opportunity to become a confident, capable and successful reader, writer and learner.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY – TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
Media are invited to attend the Flare Primary Literacy professional learning day and capture educators from across Ballarat working together to improve literacy teaching and student outcomes.
What: Flare Primary Literacy – Phase B Professional Learning Day
When: Tuesday 1 September 2026 (12noon - 3pm)
Where: St Thomas More Primary School, Alfredton
Who: More than 200 teachers, principals, leaders and learning support staff from eight Catholic primary schools
Opportunities: Interviews, photographs and vision of the professional learning program