For many years, St Catherine’s has proudly implemented evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning. This strong foundation has supported high levels of literacy achievement across year levels, with teachers consistently drawing on research to guide instruction. Building on this success, we are now adopting a new whole-school approach to spelling to ensure greater consistency, clarity, and impact for every learner.

A research informed decision

Throughout the year, Junior School leadership worked closely with the Barbreck staff to find a rigorous, evidence-based approach to teaching spelling across the School. It is important that the approach meets the needs of our students as they move through their primary years, and is aligned with the current research supporting to use of explicit synthetic phonics instruction.

After careful consideration, we have made the commitment to adopt PhOrMeS as the approach to teach reading and spelling from Prep to Year 6. The name stands for Phonology, Orthography, Morphology, Etymology, and Semantics and the program integrates principles from the Science of Reading to teach students how to decode words, spell, and understand word meanings.

This aligns closely with our School’s commitment to providing the most effective, research-supported teaching practices.

Why a More Consistent Approach?

• Consistent instructional routines and expectations for all learners
• A shared language and framework across staff, improving collaboration and support
• Reduction of extraneous cognitive load for learners
• More precise use of assessment data to track growth and target specific needs
• A clearer progression of skills from Prep to Year 6

Professional Development

Professional development is already underway for staff, who have participated in two workshops this term to gain a deeper understanding of the evidence behind the program, structures and routines, and how to effectively implement the program in their classes. Moving into 2026, teachers will be given ongoing learning and coaching opportunities to further deepen their practice.

Looking Ahead

We are excited to begin this next chapter in our literacy journey. As we implement PhOrMeS in 2026, we look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence, accuracy, and enjoyment of reading and writing. We are also excited to bring our parent community along on our journey and will look to provide opportunities for you to learn how you can support your daughter’s spelling development at home.