Fairfield Heights Public School excels in primary education

A primary school in the heart of Sydney’s multicultural southwest is breaking down barriers to help children reach their full potential – and it has years of success in NAPLAN to show for it.

A primary school in the heart of Sydney’s multicultural southwest is breaking down barriers to help children reach their full potential – and it has years of success in NAPLAN to show for it.

Fairfield Heights Public School principal Sue Craig said the school’s 2024 NAPLAN results were among their best ever, after more than a decade of consistently strong performance.

“The children in the school have done their very best, that is recognised, and it opens up the possibilities for transition points such as high school,” Ms Craig said.

“If you ask the children, they are highly aspirational, as are their parents.”

The culturally diverse Fairfield City local government area, in Sydney’s southwest, has a comparatively high number of students with a language background other than English, students whose parents speak languages other than English, and refugees.

Ms Craig and deputy principal Tanya Benetel said the school’s educators were strongly supported by its parents – some of whom are migrants who transitioned from skilled to unskilled work upon arriving in Australia, and nurture big dreams for their children.

“What they want for their children is the best that education can offer,” Ms Benetel said.

“We always think if we give them a really good education, it just opens the door for every opportunity that they could hope for, and that’s really our job.”

Daniella Mamo, 8, Angelo Toma, 11, and Onela Yousuf, 8. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The school upholds dedicated reading, writing and mathematics lessons every day that is responsive and tailored to each student’s unique needs.

Ms Craig said a highly structured teaching and learning framework that prioritised instructional learning and a consistent, balanced timetable was crucial to the school’s academic success.

“We differentiate our programs according to student need, and we look at our students who have high support needs and differentiate their programs so they get a personalised learning plan,” Ms Craig said.

Hawre Rajabi, 9, Angel Albelaty, 10, Angelo Toma, 11, and Daniella Mamo, 8, from Fairfield Heights Public School. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We have a lot of new arrival refugee students, so we’re very used to having to start right from the beginning in English, so differentiation is our bread and butter.

“The other area that we look at is our high potential gifted education students – they also receive a differentiated program, which is having a big impact for them on their literacy and numeracy performance.”

A new digital curriculum platform also allows teachers to differentiate a core program for students in their class rather than writing each one from scratch.

The school – which takes in a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged demographic – also provides financial and material support and subsidies for technology, sport and excursions.

Daniella Mamo, 8, Angelo Toma, 11, and Onela Yousuf, 8.

“We prioritise every day teaching and learning in the classroom,” Ms Craig said.

“It’s not glamorous, is it – I can’t produce anything that’s sort of headline making, it’s just the work every single day.

“Every student here is supported to achieve excellence, or achieve their full potential – we are looking at the holistic view of the child, and taking it from there.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Fairfield Heights Public School excels in primary education